Many of us are struggling with money worries during this difficult time. Many of us haven't asked for help before but it's important to act early to prevent smaller problems turning into bigger ones.
These pages serve to provide advice to our residents on ways to help reduce bills and who to turn to for further assistance.
Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024
Guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.
5 July 2023 - Added guidance on how to report a missing £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Apply for Future Support Offer 2024 grant funding to support people to claim Universal Credit
Guidance and form to apply for grant funding to provide telephone and digital support for people making a new Universal Credit claim.
Potential applicants must now register with us as a Registered Interested Party (see the Future Support Offer 2024 Grant Competition Specification by 11.59pm on 14 July 2023. This supersedes the previous deadline of 11.59pm on 30 June 2023 for registering, set out in the Future Support Offer 2024 Grant Competition Specification.
The deadline for applications is still 11.59pm on 28 July 2023.
New law to ensure domestic abuse victims receive child maintenance gets Royal Assent
A Bill ensuring victims of domestic abuse can receive child maintenance without contact from their abuser has received Royal Assent on Thursday, 29 June 2023.
Working parents to benefit from childcare boost worth up to £1,630 per month
As part of one of the Prime Minister’s five key priorities to grow the economy, low-earning parents on Universal Credit are set to benefit from up to a £522 monthly boost to cover childcare costs – making it easier for them to get back to work or increase their hours. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has raised how much parents on Universal Credit can claim for childcare – up to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more children. This is an increase of 47% from the previous limits, which were £646 for one child or £1,108 for two or more children.
Tax credits and some benefits are ending: move to Universal Credit
If you have received a Migration Notice letter, then some of your existing benefits will be ending soon. You need to move to Universal Credit.
3 July 2023 updated - Money can also be taken from your Universal Credit payment to pay for tax credits overpayments.
New service for accessing government support to save taxpayer over £200 million
A brand-new UK-wide digital service for organisations applying for government grants could save up to £270 million through efficiencies and fraud prevention. The first of its kind Find a Grant service offers a free central place on GOV.UK for business, individuals and organisations to find and apply for government grants. Each year government awards over £50 billion in general grant funding. Government grants can be awarded from anything from improving local housing, to funding innovative new research into advanced fuels and digital technologies, or providing better sports facilities and youth centres for communities.
End to Friday prison releases calls time on damaging race against the clock
Thousands of prisoners vulnerable to addiction, mental health issues or homelessness will no longer be released on Fridays as a new Bill to reduce reoffending became law on 29 June 2023. Around 1 in 3 leave custody on a Friday – giving them just a few short hours to access critical support, such as finding a bed for the night, registering with a GP and signing up with the job centre, before services shut for the weekend.
'Get around for £2' this summer as bus fare cap extended until 31 October
The offer will be available for single bus tickets on over 5,000 routes in England (outside London).
The £2 bus fare cap – previously due to come to an end on 30 June 2023 – will now continue until 31 October 2023, helping passengers save a third off the average ticket price.
The scheme will then continue at £2.50 for one year until November 2024, thanks to £200 million in government funding to help people save money on travel while growing the economy.
Support for people sleeping rough in England, March 2023
Management information about the support for people sleeping rough and those at risk of sleeping rough in local authorities across England.
This release includes management information up to March 2023 and includes a more frequent although less robust estimate of people sleeping rough on a single night, compared to the official rough sleeping snapshot statistics.
Prepayment meter customers to pay less for energy
Prepayment meter households will no longer pay more on average for their energy than direct debit customers, as the government scraps unfair charge.
Child and Working Tax Credits statistics: Provisional Awards April 2023
These statistics are a snapshot of the overall caseload of people receiving Working Tax Credits and/or Child Tax Credits.
Community Ownership Fund: successful bidders list
The Community Ownership Fund has awarded £36.83 million to 150 projects across the UK, with £25.5 million allocated to 97 projects across England, £5.2 million allocated to 24 projects in Scotland, £3.2 million to 15 projects in Wales and £3 million to 14 projects in Northern Ireland.
Bids invited for £1 million defibrillator fund
The government is inviting community organisations to bid for funding for a defibrillator for their area. The Department of Health and Social Care is inviting interested organisations to register expressions of interest for its £1 million Community Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) Fund, aimed at increasing the number of AEDs in public places where they are most needed and help save lives. Organisations who submit an expression of interest will be notified once grant applications open to the Department of Health and Social Care’s £1 million Community AED Fund.
Record investment to see thousands more benefit from free legal support
Thousands more vulnerable people will be able to access free and early legal advice to resolve issues quickly and avoid court room proceedings, thanks to a record boost in government funding. A new investment of £10.4 million now means that more charities than ever – 59 in total – will be able to reach people in more innovative ways, ultimately reaching more of those most in need of legal advice and support.