Financial support

Warm hubs are heated areas that some local councils have set up in public buildings, like libraries and community centres. You can spend time in these areas for free to keep warm and meet other people in your local community.  

Use the Warm Welcome Spaces website to find warm hubs near you.  

Your local council can give you more information about Warm Hubs. 

The Warm Home Discount Scheme gives you a one-off discount on your winter electricity bill. If you qualify for the discount, you’ll get a letter by early January 2025.  

The money will not be paid directly to you. If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill between October 2024 and March 2025. 

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is available in England, Scotland and Wales. There are different ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depending on where you live. Find out if you are eligible on the government website. 

The Warm Home Discount is not available in Northern Ireland. You might be able to apply for the Affordable Warmth scheme instead. 

The Priority Services Register is a support service for people who may be vulnerable. It’s free to join and is not dependent on how much money you have. 

You will be eligible for extra support from your energy supplier if you are disabled or have a long-term medical condition. This includes if you use medical equipment in your home, such as oxygen concentrators, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, or nebulisers. 

If you are eligible, the Nest scheme may be able to offer you free home energy efficiency improvements. This could include a new boiler, central heating, or insulation. 

You could be eligible for free home energy efficiency improvements if you meet the following conditions: 

• you own or privately rent your home

• your home is expensive to heat and is not energy-efficient  

• you or someone you live with receives a means-tested benefit, or has a chronic respiratory, circulatory, or mental health condition and an income below the threshold. 

Find out if you’re eligible for the Nest scheme in Wales.   

You can also contact the NI Energy advice line. They can tell you what help you could be entitled to.  

If you were born before 23 September 1958, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

We have more information about Winter Fuel Payments. 

Citizens Advice has more information about what to do if you are struggling to pay your bills.

Money Saving Expert has helpful tips about saving energy in your home.  

StepChange has a free online debt advice service if your health is affecting your finances. 

Food banks are community organisations that help you if you cannot afford food or other essential items, like toiletries and cleaning products. Your local council should be able to tell you about the different food banks in your area. 

Many independent food banks are open to anybody who needs them. You do not need a referral to use their services. If your nearest food bank asks for a referral, you can get one from a GP, social worker, housing association or Citizens Advice. 

Citizens Advice has more information about getting a referral to a food bank. 

You will receive a food parcel at the food bank. Some food banks offer additional support, like debt advice, mental health support and benefits guidance. 

FoodCycle offers free hot meals to people who need them in England and Wales. Everybody can use FoodCycle. It’s not based on how much money you have, and you do not need to be referred.

Find out how to get a FoodCycle meal. 

There are some apps you can download on your phone where you can get free or very cheap food that would otherwise go to waste. Everybody can use these apps. They are not based on how much money you have. 

On the Too Good To Go app, you can pick up ‘surprise bags’ from local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. They usually cost between £2 and £6 and are filled with leftover food that’s still good to eat. 

You can also get unwanted groceries and household items from your neighbours on the app Olio. The app has volunteers who collect food from supermarkets and cafes and give it out for free.

If you’re pregnant or caring for a child under four in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales, you might be able to join the Healthy Start scheme. This scheme gives parents money to buy milk, baby formula, vegetables, and vitamins. 

Scotland has a similar scheme called Best Starts Foods Card for children under three. 

Money Saving Expert has tips on how you can get more free or cheap food.

Money Helper has information about eating healthy on a budget. 

Some supermarkets are also offering discounts and free food to children and people over the age of 60. 

This help is sometimes called the Household Support Fund. Every council runs a different scheme. You should ask your local council what you’re entitled to. 

You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council. If you do get benefits, they should not be affected by any help you get from your local council.  

Use the government website to find your local council.    

Council Tax Reduction is a benefit which helps you pay your council tax. You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim other benefits. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed, or working.  

Find out more about council tax reductions in England, Scotland, and Wales.  

Find out more about council tax reductions Northern Ireland.  

You can apply for a Blue Badge if you’re disabled or have a health condition that affects your mobility.

If you have a Blue Badge, you can park in places that other drivers cannot. For example, you can use disabled parking bays to park closer to your destination, either as a passenger or driver.

If your lung condition makes it hard for you to get around, you can apply for discounts on public transport. You could get free travel on buses and a 30% discount on train tickets.  

Citizens Advice has more information public transport discounts.  

If your healthcare professional refers you to a hospital or NHS service for specialist treatment or tests, you may be able to claim a refund for your travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).  

Use the NHS website to find out if you can use the HTCS.  

If you’re an NHS patient and are too ill, weak or disabled to travel to an appointment on public transport, you may be eligible to claim back the ULEZ charge and Congestion Charge. Your hospital can tell you if you’re eligible. 

Transport for London is also offering temporary ULEZ exemptions to people with wheelchair-accessible vehicles and people who receive certain disability benefits.  

Transport for London has more information about ULEZ discounts and exemptions. 

A grant is financial help given by charitable organisations to people in need. Grants can be money, products or services. Charitable grants do not have to be paid back. You can normally get help from charitable grants even if you are not eligible for welfare benefits. 

Use Turn2Us’s website to search for charitable grants.