If you are struggling financially, help to pay for emergency costs like food and bills may be available from your local authority. In the past this worked in the same way across the UK, but it now varies based on where you live.  

If you live in England

Each local authority is given a pot of money from the government to run its own local welfare fund and it can choose how to use the money locally. You should get in touch with your council to find out what support it is able to provide you.

Some councils may provide cash grants and some may use their welfare fund to support services provided by charities and the voluntary sector.

NEW Council Tax Rebate to help with energy bills - April 2022

The Chancellor announced on 3 February 2022 that all households in England in council tax bands A-D will receive a £150 non-repayable payment to help with the increasing cost of energy bills. The payment will be made by your local authority in April 2022 directly to your bank account (if you pay your council tax by direct debit). It will not be paid for second homes or empty properties. Single people will get the full £150 payment, as will people who pay less than £150 or do not pay Council Tax
as a result of Local Council Tax Support. The £150 payment will not be counted as income towards other benefits.

On top of this discount, money has been made available to support vulnerable people and individuals on low incomes that do not pay Council Tax, or that pay Council Tax for properties in Bands E-H. If this applies to you, when the schemes are in place from April 2022, ask your council what support is available.

All households with an electricity supply, regardless of their income or council tax band, will also have £200 taken off their energy bills from October 2022. However, this is a loan which will need to be repaid from your energy bill in equal £40 instalments over the next five years starting in 2023.

Household Support Fund - October 2021 to March 2022

The Household Support Fund was launched by the government in October 2021 and will be available until March 2022.

It is intended to help vulnerable households who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic with essential costs such as food, energy bills, water bills and other essentials over the winter. Help with housing costs may also be available in cases of emergency. 50% of the money is due to be allocated to people with children.

In England, the money will be distributed by local authorities so they can use the money where is it most needed. Contact your council to find out if you are eligible for any support.

If you live in Northern Ireland

The Finance Support Service supports people who are in need of short-term financial help. It has various parts depending on what help you may need.

The Universal Credit Contingency Fund payment may be available if you don't have enough money to live on until you get your first Universal Credit payment and need additional financial support. You will not have to pay this back.

Discretionary Support is short term financial support paid into your bank account as either an interest-free loan or a grant which you do not have to pay back.

Extra support is being provided during the Covid-19 pandemic if you are ill or you need to self-isolate.

More information is available on all of these on NIdirect.gov.

NEW Additional support to help with energy bills

The Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme is open from 6 January 2022 to 31 March 2022 to provide one-off support of up to £100 worth of electricity, gas or oil to people struggling to pay for energy bills. Check eligibility criteria and apply via the Bryson Charitable Group website.

Plus, during the winter of 2022, the Energy Payment Support Scheme will provide a one-off £200 automatic payment to people who were receiving a means-tested benefit during the qualifying week (Monday 13 December to Sunday 19 December 2021) to help with the cost of increasing energy bills. The payment will be made automatically to those eligible by 28 March 2022, you do not need to apply.

If you live in Wales

The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides two types of grant that you do not need to pay back.

The Emergency Assistance Payment is for help with essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you are experiencing extreme financial hardship, have lost your job or have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment.

The Individual Assistance Payment is a grant to help you or someone you care for live independently in their home or a property that you or they are moving into.

More information is available on gov.wales.

UPDATED Extra help with fuel costs until 28 February 2022

The Winter Fuel Support Scheme is a specific pot of money coming from the Household Support Fund via local authorities in Wales to help households who were receiving a working age means-tested benefit between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022 with the increasing cost of fuel.

The £100 payment was increased to £200 on 1 February 2022. People who have already received £100 will automatically be sent a further £100. Anyone who has not yet applied should contact their local authority.

Extra money will also be provided to support foodbanks, community food partnerships and community hubs.

All households with an electricity supply, regardless of their income, will also have £200 taken off their energy bills from October 2022. However, this is a loan which will need to be repaid from your energy bill in equal £40 instalments over the next five years starting in 2023.

If you live in Scotland

The Scottish Welfare Fund includes the Crisis Grant for help dealing with an emergency, the Community Care Grant for people needing help to live in their community and, during the pandemic, the Self-Isolation Support Grant if you are on a low income and need to self-isolate.

More information is available from mygov.scot.

NEW Cost of living payments to help with energy bills - April 2022

The Scottish government announced on 10 February 2022 that all households in Scotland in council tax bands A-D, or those in receipt of council tax reduction, will receive a £150 payment to help with the increasing cost of energy bills. The payment will be made by your local authority in April 2022 and it may choose to send a direct cash payment or apply a credit to your council tax account. We will add more information here when it is announced.

On top of this discount, money has been made available via a Fuel Insecurity Fund to help people struggling to pay their fuel bills.

All households with an electricity supply, regardless of their income or council tax band, will also have £200 taken off their energy bills from October 2022. However, this is a loan which will need to be repaid from your energy bill in equal £40 instalments over the next five years starting in 2023.

Extra new winter fund from October 2021

The Winter Support Fund was launched at the end of October 2021 to help low-income households and people at risk of homelessness. Grants may be available if you are struggling to pay fuel bill and to meet rising food costs - contact your local authority to find out how the fund works in your area.

All households, regardless of their income, with an electricity supply will also have £200 taken off their energy bills from October 2022. However, this is a loan which will need to be repaid from your energy bill in equal £40 instalments over the next five years starting in 2023.

Extra help in any area

Budgeting Loans and Budgeting Advances

These schemes are also available for people who need help to pay for one-off expensive essential items such as furniture, home removal costs, improvements for your home, getting a job, staying in work or funeral costs. The money needs to be repaid but it is interest free.

Budgeting Loans are for people who have been getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit for at least six months. Find out more on gov.uk.

Budgeting Advances are for people who have been claiming Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more. If the money is to help with starting a new job or staying in work there are no time limits. Find out more on gov.uk.

Furniture and white goods

Your local council may be able to help you get hold of items of furniture or white goods. The Furniture Resource Centre has a search function to signpost you to your local authority.