A few different payments are available to help households claiming benefits with the rising costs of living. We explain how to check what you're entitled to and find out more about how to claim.
Cost of living support if you are receiving means-tested benefits
You may be entitled to the Cold Weather Payment if you receive certain benefits and the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0˚C or below over seven consecutive days.
The 2024/25 scheme started on 1 November 2024. You’ll be able to check if your area is due a payment from November 2024.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, applied between October and March.
In England and Wales, you might be eligible if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- are on a low income and have high energy costs.
In Scotland, you might be eligible if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.
In Northern Ireland, the Warm Home Discount Scheme is not available. Instead, they offer the Affordable Warmth scheme.
If you live in a park (mobile) home, you may be eligible for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2024 to 2025 opened on 14 October 2024.
If you live in Scotland, Child Winter Heating Payment is a benefit payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs. Child Winter Heating Payment used to be called Child Winter Heating Assistance.
Children and young people can get the assistance if they are under 19 years old and get one of the following benefits:
- the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment
- the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children
- the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.
They must be getting one of these benefits on at least one day in the third full week of September. In 2024 this week was Monday 16 September to Sunday 22 September.
The payment for winter 2024-2025 is £251.50.
If you are not receiving any benefits or need extra help
Contact your local authority
If you’re on a low income and struggling with essential costs, contact your local council to see what help might be available.
- In England, you may be eligible for a payment from the Household Support Fund
- In Wales, you might be able to apply to the Discretionary Assistance Fund
- In Scotland, enquire about a Crisis Grant or Community Care Grant
- In Northern Ireland, Discretionary Support or a Short-term Benefit Advance may be available.
You could also apply to your local council for Council Tax Reduction (also called Council Tax Support). Your bill could be reduced by up to 100% depending on the scheme your local council runs, your circumstances, and your household income.
Contact your utility providers
Gas and electricity bill help
Many of the big gas and electricity energy firms provide grants to help their customers and people who are behind with payments.
- The British Gas Energy Trust is available to all energy users, not just British Gas customers. Grants are available to help you clear domestic gas and electricity debts.
- British Gas, EDF, E.on Next, Octopus Energy, Scottish Power, Shell Energy and Utility Warehouse have schemes to help their own customers with the costs of energy. MoneySavingExpert.com has a list of the energy bill grants available.
You can find more advice about how to lower your utility bills, manage your utility costs, and keep your home warm in our Kidney Care UK cost of living hub.
Phone and broadband bill help
If you are claiming benefits, you may be able to apply for a cheaper social tariff for your broadband, landline or mobile. A list of telecomms social tariffs available is on the Ofcom website and a comparison of different social tariffs for broadband is on the MoneySavingExpert website.
Water bills help
If you are claiming benefits or on a low income you might be eligible for a cheaper social tariff from your water company. You may also be able to apply for debt support schemes, financial hardship funds to help you clear your bill, or the WaterSure bill cap scheme. Speak to your water company or find out more about help with water costs on the Customer Council for Water (CCW) website.
Help with essential costs
The Kidney Care UK cost of living hub has more advice about how to cope with the rising costs of living, including information about lowering your utility bills, social and community shopping, home dialysis reimbursement, and a free benefits calculator.
Citizens Advice also offers detailed guidance if you are struggling to afford essentials:
- Food
- Bills and rent
- Health costs
- Travel costs
- Education costs for children.
