Helpful Links

COST OF LIVING CRISIS – SUPPORT AVAILABLE

The cost of living crisis is affecting everyone.

I hope this overview of support available will be useful.

Information correct as of 20th October 2022

Welsh Government Support Summary Courtesy of Lee Water’s office.

Welsh Government support

Fuel support scheme

The Welsh Government is extending its Fuel Support Scheme this autumn and winter, meaning more households will be eligible to benefit from a £200 payment to help keep their homes warm.

More than 400,000 households will now be eligible for the £200 payment.

Households claiming universal credit, legacy means-tested benefit, working tax credits, child tax credits, pension credits, disability benefits, carers allowance, contributory benefits and those receiving a council tax reduction will be eligible.

Link here – https://gov.wales/welsh-government-fuel-support-scheme-extended-more-400000-low-income-households-after-90m

Cost of Living Support Scheme

The £150 cost of living support payment is being provided to all households in properties in council tax bands A to D, and all households which receive support from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme regardless of their council tax band.

Payments will be made directly into people’s bank accounts by their Local Authority.

Discretionary Assistance Fund

A grant to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you:

are experiencing extreme financial hardship
have lost your job
have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment

Link here – https://gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf

Free School Meals

Free school breakfasts are available for all children in Wales.

Free school meals are available to eligible to children in Wales, and are continuing to be provided through school holidays.

Link here – https://www.swansea.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

From September 2022, the universal free school meals scheme will start to be rolled out, starting with reception classes. By April 2023, years 1 and 2 will start to receive their free school meals, with the rest of primary school years following by 2024.

Link here – https://gov.wales/universal-free-school-meals-roll-out-commence-september

Pupil Development Grant

Helps families with the costs of the school day and can be used for items such as school uniform and equipment.

Learners currently eligible for free school meals can apply for the grant of £125 per learner, and £200 for those learners entering year 7, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.

Link here

Help with childcare costs

The Childcare Offer for Wales provides up to 30 hours of government-funded early education and childcare to eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds for 48 weeks of the year.

Link here

Utilities

Welsh Water

Help can be given to those struggling to pay their bills. Find out more on the Welsh Water website – https://www.dwrcymru.com/en/support-with-bills

HelpU tariff

The HelpU tariff helps the lowest income households. If you qualify, Dwr Cymru will cap your water bill so you won’t pay over a certain amount for the year.

If you have a water meter, you will never pay more than the amount you have used. If your consumption is less than the HelpU cap amount, you will only be billed for the amount of water you have used.

Webpage

National Energy Action

Directly supports people with energy and income maximisation advice and we advocate on issues including improving the energy efficiency of our homes.

If you or someone you know can’t afford to heat their home NEA offer a range of advice and support directly to people in need.

Call 0800 304 7159, Monday to Friday 10.00 am-12.00 noon

NEA Website

Warm hubs – The First Minister confirmed £1m to provide warm hubs/centres this winter (2022-23). More than 300 warm hubs – places where people can go in their local community to stay warm during the day – have been set up across Wales. The Croeso Cynnes website lists more than 120 warm hubs across North Wales.

Gas Leak – 0800 11 999

Power Cut – 0800 678 3105

Dwr Cymru – 0800 085 3968

Housing

Discretionary housing payments

Applies to both social and private sectors

It can provide extra money when your local authority decides that you need extra help to meet your housing costs on top of what benefit support you already receive through the DWP.

In order to receive the Discretionary Housing Payments, it is necessary to either already be receiving the old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing cost contribution element through Universal Credit.

To find out if you are eligible contact Swansea Council. Link here – https://www.swansea.gov.uk/dhp

Benefit Entitlement

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs which is paid monthly. You may be eligible to apply if you are working but on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644

Welsh language: 0800 328 1744

Link here – https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

New Style Employment & Support Allowance

If you are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

New Style ESA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit (UC). If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.

New Style ESA is a contributory benefit. Normally, this means you may be able to get it if you’ve paid or been credited with enough National Insurance contributions in the 2 full tax years before the year, you’re claiming in.

To be eligible for the New Style ESA you usually need to have been working within the last 2 to 3 years and have made (or been credited with) Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions. This can be through employment or self–employment.

Link here – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

New Style Job Seekers Allowance

You might be eligible for New Style Job Seeker’s Allowance to help you when you look for work, either on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit. If you’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week you may be able to get New Style Job Seeker’s Allowance.

Link here – http://gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/apply-newstyle-jsa

Personal Independence Payment

Payments to support the cost of living for individuals who:

Have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
Difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

Link here – https://www.gov.uk/pip

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension. You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

Where to get help

Citizens Advice

Citizen’s Advice Cymru offers free, confidential advice on a range of issues including money, debt and benefits. To speak to an adviser, please call 03444 77 20 20 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)

Link here – https://cacv.org.uk/

Age Cymru

Age Cymru Advice offers free, confidential and impartial support service. They can help older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals with information and advice on matters affecting older people.

To find out more, call 0300 303 398 between 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday to Friday or email advice@agecymru.org.uk.

Support for business

Swansea Council has put together a comprehensive page laying out the support available for local businesses: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/covid19adviceforbusinesses

Further information from the Welsh Government: https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice

Financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19): https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19

Support for the self employed

Benefit advice if you are self-employed: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/15146/Benefit-advice-if-you-are-self-employed

Claim a grant through the coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

Support for the Self Employed: https://businesswales.gov.wales/support-self-employed

Food Services

Swansea Council

Swansea Council has put together a comprehensive list of food and essential items: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/essentialsuppliers

Essentials

The Swansea food bank, run by the Trussell Trust, is still open for those who need it and information can be found here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/swansea/

Wales online has used the list put together by Swansea Council to create an accessible list of all the food and essential suppliers in Swansea and who can deliver: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/suppliers-food-essential-items-swansea-18051150

Mental health support

Mind Cymru has a dedicated bilingual section of their website for young people: English I Welsh

Samaritans Cyrmu have bilingual information, resources, branch information and a free helpline for anyone who needs to talk.

MEIC Cymru is a helpline service for children and young people in Wales up to the age of 25. The helpline is free, confidential and can offer support on a wide range of issues including navigating emotionally difficult situations.

PAPYRUS is a UK wide organisation working towards the prevention of young suicide.

They have a 24/7 helpline, as well as information and resources for those caring for a young person who is struggling.

NHS 111 press OPTION 2 is a service available for people of all ages, 24/7 in all areas of Wales, who would like to talk to someone urgently about mental health.

Advice from Mind that includes practical advice for staying home, taking care of your mental health at home and support for work, benefits and housing: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

Advice from the NHS on mental wellbeing while staying at home:

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/

The Samaritans have a number of resources that might be helpful:
https://www.samaritans.org/