Help with the rising costs of living
If you are impacted by the increased costs of living, the following support is available.
This includes support from central government, the councils and our partners.
If you are at risk of eviction or being cut-off from by your energy supplier please access the help available as soon as possible.
Please check your eligibility before applying for support.
Latest updates:
Hundreds of eligible, pension age households in East Sussex are missing out on Pension Credit.
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with living costs if you're over State Pension age and on a low income.
You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home. It is also separate from your State Pension.
Claiming Pension Credit doesn't just top up your income - it could also help you get other benefits, including help with health and housing costs.
To check eligibility and find out more, visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit or call 0800 99 1234.
If you'd like support to complete the application form, contact your local Citizens Advice. Visit East Sussex Citizens Advice
Welcome Spaces
These are safe, non-judgemental spaces where you can: sit and be warm, study or work on your laptop (with access to Wi-fi), have a hot drink, be with company, access advice or information on things such as debt, bills, benefits and food.
Cost of living support on GOV.UK
You can find out about many forms of support on the government website: costoflivingsupport.campaign.gov.uk.
Money Navigator
Anyone in financial difficulty can access money and debt guidance for free via Money Helper UK: moneyhelper.org.uk.
Household Support Fund - (currently closed to applications)
Does your household need extra financial support? If you're finding it difficult to keep warm, buy enough food or pay essential bills, you may be able to get extra help.
Household Support Fund (currently closed to applications)
Lewes District Council 'safety net' fund
Lewes District Council is offering funds to residents on a low income who will miss out on the government's £900 cost-of-living payments.
Our 'safety net' payment is available to eligible residents in Lewes district who are struggling to keep warm, buy enough food or pay essential bills.
To qualify, you must be in receipt of housing benefit or council tax reduction but not in receipt of any other means-tested benefit, unless you are also receiving a qualifying disability or carer's benefit. Alternatively you are not in receipt of any means-tested benefit but your household is on a low income, as detailed in the Household Support Fund 4 Eligibility Framework.
The safety net award is a one-off payment of £400, that will be paid alongside the Household Support Fund 4 award which opened for applications in April 2023. You only need to apply once to receive a payment of the Household Support Fund 4 and Cost-of-Living Emergency Fund
The funding is limited and will be paid out on a first come, first served basis.
Apply via our grants portal: grantapproval.co.uk
Or you can call the Lewes district freephone cost of living crisis number: 08081753990.
Pension Credit
Pensioners are the age group least likely to be claiming all the financial help available to them, including Pension Credit. This can provide thousands of pounds in extra help each year. Check if you can claim at www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim
Fuel vouchers
Emergency fuel vouchers are available for qualifying households in Sussex.
Referrals for the vouchers are available with a referral from Citizens Advice in Lewes district and Eastbourne. You can find their contact details online or by calling 03444 111 444.
The vouchers (£28 for a single person and £49 for a family) are for vulnerable residents (ie. due to age or a health condition) on limited incomes or means-tested benefits and facing difficult financial circumstances and with a pre-payment meter.
Warm home check service
East Sussex County Council provide a warm home check service which is available all year round. It offers advice and support to anyone who struggles to keep warm at home.
The service includes:
- advice on getting help to pay for heating
- an assessment of your home to identify how to keep warm
- small works such as improving insulation or repairing boilers
- emergency temporary heating
For more information about the service and to check eligibility, visit East Sussex County Council - Keep warm and well
Warm Home Discount scheme
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will be reopening of the Warm Home Discount scheme. The scheme provides a discount of £150 off, with most households receiving the discount automatically.
All customers will receive a letter between this month November 2023 and mid-January 2023 confirming their eligibility and the payment will be made automatically through energy suppliers by March 2023.
Check if you could be eligible for the scheme by visiting: www.gov.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-for-warm-home-discount
Help with local travel - FlexiBus scheme
FlexiBus is a flexible, on-demand rideshare service, for areas with limited or no bus service. Residents can book a FlexiBus journey to their nearest town, train station, hospital and other key destinations.
FlexiBus operates exclusively for places not served by a regular bus service. You can't book a FlexiBus journey to travel along an existing public transport route.
Services run 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday (not Sundays or Bank holidays).
To find out more, visit East Sussex County Council's FlexiBus webpage.
Help if you are at risk of your power being cut off
Citizens Advice have set up an Extra Help Unit for people who are vulnerable or at risk of being disconnected by their energy provider. They can help raise complaints with your energy provider - ehu.org.uk
Loans and grants to maintain your home
There are a number of loan and grant schemes available to help home owners maintain their homes. This includes the Disabled Facilities Grant, home improvement loans and grants to repair your heating.
Citizens Advice - other grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills
Citizens Advice have information about other grants and benefits to help pay your energy bill. This includes Winter fuel payment, Warm Home Discount, Grants to help pay off your energy debts and Cold Weather Payments.
citizensadvice.org.uk - Grants and benefits to help pay your energy bills
Advice on reducing energy use at home
The Energy Saving Trust offer help to save money on bills at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint.
energysavingtrust.org.uk - Energy at home
The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charity set up to support families and individuals facing financial hardship and energy debt. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to access help.
britishgasenergytrust.org.uk - British Gas Energy Trust
Help with water bills
Southern Water
Southern Water has set up a Customer Hardship Fund to help their customers in financial difficulty to reduce their water your bills or write-off debt.
There are three different types of support available:
- Up to 50% one-year bill reduction for customers hit temporarily by hard times
- Debt write-off of up to £2,000 for customers who have managed to get back on track with payments but will never be able to repay their debt
- A grant of up to £1,000 to make improvements to a customer's home
To find out more including who is eligible for help visit:
Phone Southern Water on 0330 303 0368.
Water Sure is for households with 3 or more children aged 18 and under or have a person with a medical condition that means they use a lot of water.
Residents can find more information at Southern Water - Help paying your bill or by calling 0800 952 4000.
South East Water
South East Water have a Helping Hand scheme which offers financial help to clear outstanding balances on water and sewerage bills. To find out more, please visit the South East Water website or call 0800 952 4000.
Help if you are struggling to afford food
If you are finding you can't afford food there is a range of support available through local authority and community services.
- Help if you are struggling to afford food
- Accessing emergency food and financial support (PDF) [343KB] - Lewes District Food Partnership leaflet
NHS Healthy Start
If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
- Visit NHS Healthy Start Scheme to find out more
Help if you are struggling to pay your Council Tax or need to claim Housing Benefit
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to claim Housing Benefit or a reduction on your Council Tax.
Exceptional hardship payments
The exceptional hardship payment fund has been set up to support our most vulnerable customers who have seen a reduction in the Government support which helped to pay their Council Tax liability or are suffering financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances. Find out more at:
Help if you might get evicted
Discretionary housing payments (DHPs) help those who are in receipt of housing benefits or the Housing Element of Universal Credit (UC) to meet the cost of their rent. This is normally awarded where there is a shortfall between the eligible rent and housing benefit or UC. Find out more at:
Discretionary housing payments
Help with money and debt
If you are struggling with managing your money, debt or the causes of debt, there are several organisations that can help guide you.
Be Aware of Scams
Unfortunately, scammers are using the cost-of-living crisis to take advantage of those in need.
Anyone can be a victim irrespective of age, education or income and this can have a devastating impact.
Advice on how to spot and report scams:
- Get Safe Online
- East Sussex County Council - Scams
- Trading Standards - Scams Team
- Police - Action Fraud
Please help spread the word to others about scam awareness to keep vulnerable people in our community safe.
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