Cost of living - support available

Universal Credit

If you claim Universal Credit it is your responsibility to make sure that your journal details are up to date

Please make sure that your Universal Credit journal states that you are a Veteran or a partner (this includes ex-partners) or if you have mental health issues – these can be picked up as alerts by the Armed Forces Champion and by other initiatives run by the DWP.

You can check whether you need to apply for Universal Credit and check your benefit entitlement or use the Benefit Calculator www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

More infomation can be found here:
www.gov.uk/universal-credit
www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/

Fuel bills – help available

• If you are struggling to pay your gas and electricity bills, Citizens Advice recommends contacting your supplier directly and offering to come up with a payment plan
• If you are on a prepayment meter and you can’t afford to top up, you can get temporary credit from your supplier, but you’ll have to pay this back
• You may be able to repay your debt directly from your benefits through the Fuel Direct Scheme
• A number of suppliers and charities offer grants and scheme to help pay off energy debts
• The government has also announced a range of support to help people with energy bills including a £400 grant to all UK households from October
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Winter fuel payment – if you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills
• Cold Weather Payment
• British Gas Energy Trust– help available for energy debt – you don’t have to be a British Gas customer to access this service
• Details of the Warm Home Discount Scheme from U Switch https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/warm-home-discount/
• Money Saving Expert
• Turn2Us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially
• Energy advice for older people AgeUK

• Some simple tips to reduce your energy bills

Help and advice

Citizens Advice Bureau

Telephone: For England call 03444 111 444 For Wales: 03444 772 020 For Scotland 0808 800 0006 free from mobiles
Alternatively you can contact your local office, details can be found at the following website.
Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Shelter

Telephone: 0808 800 44 44
Free housing advice line available Monday – Friday 8.00am – 8.00pm and 9.00am – 5.00pm Weekends
Website: www.shelter.org.uk

National Debt Line

Telephone: 0808 808 4000 Monday – Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm and 9.30am to 1.00pm Saturdays.

Step Change

Telephone: 0800 138 1111 Monday – Friday 8.00am – 8.00pm and 8.00am to 4pm Saturdays. https://www.stepchange.org/

Help from other sources:

• Local Housing allowance – Local Authority (Where the claimant or both claimants are over state benefit age)
• Council Tax reduction – Local Authority
• Pension Credits www.gov.uk/pension-credit
• Income Support Scheme for the Self Employed www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/
• Discretionary Housing Payments: www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments
• Armed Forces Champions DWP London and Essex
• If you need the support of a Foodbank, check out the Trussell Trust website

Money saving links:

• Cheap ‘social tariffs’ for broadband if you are receiving benefits
• Free & money-off deals at Money Saving Central
• Cost of living ‘survival guide’ by MoneySavingExpert
• Scotland Cost of living payment You may be able to get an extra payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.

Help for veterans

Haig Housing has charitable funds which are available for eligible tenants

ABF – the Soldiers Charity

From helping wounded soldiers to adapt to life after service, to assisting elderly veterans to keep their independence, the ABF offer support in six key areas: independent living, elderly care, education and employability, mental fitness, families and housing.

In all cases ABF The Soldiers’ Charity does not accept direct applications.  Applications must be submitted through the soldier or veteran’s Regimental or Corps Association.  All applications are means tested.  Each application is considered on its own merits.

If you are a Veteran, spouse/civil partner, widow, widower, parent/carer of a dependent child/children of a Veteran please contact your local SSAFA office or the Royal British Legion or, if in Scotland, contact PoppyScotland.

https://soldierscharity.org/need-our-help/how-we-help/

Royal AirForce Benevolent Fund

The RABF provides a range of financial grants for those on low incomes or those struggling to cover unexpected or unaffordable one-off costs.

https://www.rafbf.org/get-support/financial-assistance

The Royal Navy Benevolent Trust

Financial assistance to help those who are serving or served as Warrant Officers and below in the Royal Navy & Royal Marines and their dependents who find themselves in difficulty.

https://www.rnbt.org.uk/how-we-help/wide-ranging-financial-help/

Royal Navy Officers’ Charity (RNOC)

Provides benevolence to both serving and retired officers of the Royal Navy (RN, RM and QARNNS), their spouses, former spouses and dependents who are in need of financial support.

https://www.arno.org.uk/rnoc/how-we-help/

Veterans Gateway

Telephone: 0808 802 1212 Available 7 days a week 24 hours a day
Text: 81212
Website: www.veteransgateway.org.uk

SSAFA: The Armed Forces Charity

By Post: SSAFA, 4 St Dunstan’s Hill, London, EC3R 8AD
Telephone: 0800 731 4880 Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm (Message service available at all other times)
Website: www.ssafa.org.uk

Royal British Legion

By Post: Royal British Legion, 199 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1AA
Telephone: 0808 802 8080 Available 7 days a week between 8.00am – 8.00pm
Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk

Veterans UK

Post: Veterans UK, MOD, Norcross, Thonton Cleveleys, FY5 3WP
Email: Veterans-uk@mod.uk
Telephone: 0808 1914 218 Monday – Friday 8.00am – 5.00pm
Website: www.gov.uk/veterans-uk