If you are struggling to pay your rent then its important one of the first things you do is speak with your landlord or housing association, let them know of your difficulties and how you are planning to make changes to improve the situation. They may be able to help you by offering a payment extension. Saying this it is important to understand why your struggling to pay your rent. It could be your income or expenses have suddenly changed for the worse or you are living beyond your means, either way you will need a plan to help you. Moneyhelper.org suggest Making a budget can help you find out where you’re spending your money and where you might be able to cut back. If it’s likely to be a long-term problem, getting help right away might be the best solution before matters get out of control.  Money Helper has some good resources to help Rent Arrears  They also  have a handy budget planner to help you, which can be found at Budget Planner 

Universal Credit

If your circumstances have changed and your income has fallen as a result, you might be able to claim benefits to help you pay your rent, such as the housing element of Universal Credit. But your Universal Credit payment might not cover all your housing costs. This is more likely if you’re living in private rented housing. If you’re claiming Universal Credit for the first time, Citizens Advice have a dedicated service to help you. Call 0800 024 1220. For more information and to find your local Citizens Advice on their website Citizens Advice

If this happens you might be able to claim a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) from your local council to cover the shortfall in rent. You can only claim a DHP after you have received your first Universal Credit payment. You can also claim DHP if you’re claiming Housing Benefit. To help you prepare before you get your first payment, a Help to Claim adviser can help you work out whether your Universal Credit payment will cover all your rent. If it doesn’t, you can make a claim for a DHP to your local council if you need one.

To claim for a Discretionary Housing Payment you can find more information here for Cardiff residents Discretionary Housing Payments Cardiff

or here for Vale of Glamorgan residents Discretionary Housing Payment Vale Of Glamorgan

 

Offer to pay back what you can afford when you discuss your options with your lender – continuing to pay back some money is better than paying nothing and will help reduce your arrears. Consider how and when you can return to making your full monthly payments. Think about when you can afford to pay more to make payments in excess of higher than your normal monthly payment to pay down any arrears.

‘Step 1 – Contact your lender  Lenders have to treat you fairly and consider any request you make to change the way you pay your mortgage. Depending on your circumstances your lender might also make suggestions for you, for example extending your mortgage term. Don’t delay – it’s important to get in touch with your lender as soon as possible.

Step 2 – Check if you have insurance cover Mortgage payment protection insurance, also called accident, sickness and unemployment insurance, can help with your mortgage repayments if your income has fallen because of redundancy, accident or sickness. You might have taken it out when you got your mortgage – look through your mortgage paperwork and double check with your lender or the broker you used when you took out the mortgage.

*Advice taken from www.moneyhelper.org.uk

If you’re struggling to meet your mortgage repayments, the government could be able to help. You could be able to sign up for the Mortgage Rescue scheme, Support for Mortgage Interest, or other government benefits that might boost your income. Some local authorities and housing associations in Wales operate mortgage rescue schemes (MRS) to help homeowners avoid mortgage repossession if it is likely that otherwise the homeowner will be homeless.

More information here: Mortgage Help

For tips on conserving energy and reducing your energy bills on a budget  visit Energy Saving Trust

Simple Energy Advice give free independent advice online and by telephone to help you:

• reduce your energy bills
• make your home warmer
• plan home improvements
• make your home greener

Website: simpleenergyadvice.org.uk

Helpline: 0800 444 202  Freephone Opening hours Telephone line open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm

National Energy Action (NEA) – the national fuel poverty charity, working to ensure that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warm and safe at home have produced a  HOME-ENERGY-CHECK-LIST-2022  The information in this leaflet will help guide you through financial help available and practical steps you can take to help keep your home feelingwarmer this winter

Welsh Government Warm Homes

Includes the Nest scheme which provides funding for energy efficiency improvements to low     income households and those living in deprived communities across Wales. It supports the Welsh  Government’s commitments to reduce climate change, help eradicate fuel poverty, boost   economic development and regeneration in Wales. If you’re worried about your energy bills, call   us and speak to one of our friendly advisors. They can offer free and impartial advice on saving energy and water, money management, making sure you’re on the best energy and water tariff, whether you are entitled to any benefits to boost your income Call Freephone 0808 808 2244  You could be eligible for home energy efficiency improvements at no cost to you if you own your home or rent from a private landlord (not Council or Housing Association), your home is energy inefficient and expensive to heat, 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 defined thresholds. For full details and to apply visit https://nest.gov.wales/how-can-nest-help/

 

 

Access to wifi data-packages (info courtesy Vale Supporting People)

Social tariffs are available to people receiving certain benefits and can offer significant savings

over conventional tariffs. Please see the link below for more information about social tariffs

and how to sign up.      Social tariffs: Cheaper broadband and phone packages – Ofcom

The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides 2 types of grant that you do not need to pay back

Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)

A grant to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you:

• are experiencing extreme financial hardship
• have lost your job
• have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment

You cannot use it to pay for ongoing bills that you cannot afford to pay.

Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)

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.

What you can use the grant for

Use the grant to pay for:

• a fridge, cooker or washing machine and other ‘white goods’
• home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs

To find out more and check if you are eligible click here: https://gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf

Do you have a Disability? Are you a parent or carer of a Disabled child or adult?

If so, use this website to save time finding Disability Grants.

Charities and Trusts provide funding towards the high cost of disability equipment, holidays, housing, days out………in fact anything above and beyond the normal costs of everyday living.

Searching for extra funds takes time – in between work, hospital appointments, caring, therapies……..

And the hundred and one other things we all have to juggle every day!

That’s why Disability Grants is here to help YOU, your family or anyone you’re supporting with a disability.

Discover what’s available nationally and in your local area by searching the individual sections.

https://www.disability-grants.org/

If your household is on a low income, you could receive support towards some or all of your Council Tax bill through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. If you are receiving the benefits below, you can make an application to have your entitlement assessed and applied to your council tax bill:

• Job Seekers Allowance
• Employment Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Income Support

Or

• you are a low income household

You are not eligible to a reduction if you are:

• aged under 65 and have capital of £16,000 or more
• aged over 65 and have capital of £16,000 or more (unless you or your partner gets the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit)

If you receive Universal Credit you will need to apply for Council Tax Reduction if it has not already been applied to your Council Tax Bill. There may be other reasons why you may be eligible for a reduction in council tax, you can find out by using the Welsh Government calculator on the following webpage- http://www.gov.wales/pay-less-council-tax

If you pay your water bill to Welsh Water they may be able to help make your bills more affordable. If you currently aren’t in debt with the company you can spread the cost of your bill into more affordable 6 monthly/ monthly/ weekly payments. You may be able to save money by installing a Water meter. You can also request a short term payment break to temporarily reduce or postpone payments. If you receive benefits or have a low income some of Welsh Waters other Schemes may help you.

If you’re in financial hardship and you’re in debt with Welsh Water, Water Direct may help by paying your water charges and debt through your benefits. This means your arrears will slowly reduce, helping you gain control over your finances. www.dwrcymru.com/en/support-with-bills/water-direct-scheme

WaterSure Tariff

If you already have a meter, or have requested one, the WaterSure scheme puts a cap on the amount you have to pay for your water. To be eligible, you must be receiving a qualifying benefit or tax credit and either have 3 or more children under the age of 19 living at your home who you can claim Child Benefit for, or have a member of your household with a medical condition that requires significant use of extra water. http://www.dwrcymru.com/en/support-with-bills/watersure-tariff

Speak to an Welsh Water Advisor for Help reducing your Water bill 0800 052 0145 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday http://www.dwrcymru.com/en/support-with-bills/helpu-tariff

 

With the cost of fuel being really high at the moment, we are all looking around for the best value deals on our petrol and Diesel, Luckily for us GoCompare have saved us some leg work and have a handy calculator to find the best deals in your area, all you need to do is select the type of fuel and pop in your postcode! You can find the calculator on www.gocompare.com/motoring/guides/petrol-prices/

Tips on being more fuel efficient

1. Remove excess weight from your vehicle, things like a roof rack, unneccessary things in the boot, even your child’s pram, when its not needed.
2. Keep your car well maintained and serviced regularly, also ensure your tyre pressure is at the correct level.
3. Plan your journeys ahead of time, to avoid driving further than neccessary, also consider planning your journey around busy traffic times.
4. Dress suitably for the weather, avoid using the air conditioning as this can use more fuel. Similarly consider if you need to use electricals such as heated seating etc.
5. Do your research and fill up in the place with the cheapest fuel costs in your area

You might be able to get a loan as part of your Universal Credit if you need to cover a specific expense – this is called a ‘budgeting advance’.

If you get a budgeting advance, you’ll get reduced Universal Credit payments until you’ve paid off the amount you borrow. This will normally be over 12 months.

You can apply for a budgeting advance to cover things like:

• a one-off item – eg replacing a broken fridge
• work-related expenses – eg buying uniform or tools
• unexpected expenses
• repairs to your home
• travel expenses
• maternity expenses
• funeral expenses
• moving costs or rent deposit
• essential items, like clothes

If you’ve applied for Universal Credit but haven’t had your first payment yet, you need to get an advance payment instead of a budgeting advance.

”You can get a budgeting advance if you need the money to help you get or stay in work – like train tickets for a job interview. If you need the money for any other reason, you’ll need to have claimed one of these benefits for 6 months or more: You’ll also need to have earned less than £2,600 in the 6 months before your application. This figure is £3,600 if you live with a partner. You can’t get a budgeting advance if you or your partner is still paying off a previous budgeting advance.

To check how much you could get visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/budgeting-advance/

Winter Fuel Support Scheme 2022 to 2023

Eligible households can claim a one-off £200 payment from the council to provide support towards paying their fuel costs. This payment is in addition to the Energy Bill rebate being offered by the UK Government and the Winter Fuel Payment normally paid to pensioners.

The payment will be available to all eligible households (one payment per household) however they pay for their fuel, whether that is, for example, on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit or by paying a bill quarterly and can be claimed regardless of whether they are using on or off-grid fuel.

The Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme is part of a £90m fuel support package to address immediate pressures on living costs.

Local Authorities will be contacting households they consider eligible for the payment to invite an application to the scheme. Anyone who is not contacted by their Local Authority who believes they are eligible for the payment can submit a claim via their councils website from 26 September 2022. 

Cardiff Residents  – https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Benefits-and-Grants/energy-efficiency-and-fuel-poverty/Winter-Fuel-Support-Scheme/Pages/default.aspx

Vale of Glamorgan Residents – https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/living/Home-Energy/Winter-Fuel-Support-Scheme.aspx

£400 energy discount from the government

The government will give every household £400 off their electricity bill. This is called the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

You don’t need to do anything to get the money and you won’t have to pay it back. 

You’ll get the £400 in 6 instalments starting from October 2022. You’ll get:

• £66 in October and November
• £67 in December, January, February and March

You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card.

How you get the discount will depend on how you pay for energy.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter.

You can usually get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 25 September 1956.

You’ll automatically get an extra ‘pensioner cost of living payment’ with your usual Winter Fuel Payment in either November or December. If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Look for special offers on long shelf-life products like dried pasta, rice and noodles, dried or tinned beans and pulses, tinned tomatoes, passata, tomato concentrate and cereals. These can be used to bulk up your meals and make them go further.’

Buy cheaper cuts of meat such as chicken thighs or drumsticks instead of chicken breast. A whole chicken can be good value, especially if you use it for more than one meal. Mince is also a popular ingredient, versatile and inexpensive.

Canned oily fish such as sardines and salmon can be cheaper than buying fresh fish. They are high in omega-3 fats which can help to keep the heart healthy, plus they are easy to prepare and have a long shelf-life. Opt for ones in spring water to keep the salt content to a minimum. Frozen fish is often very good value and can be added to a range of dishes.

Check the frozen and canned fruit and vegetable section for cheaper items. Frozen vegetables tend to be cheaper than fresh varieties, they count towards your 5 A DAY and freezing preserves nutrients so that some frozen vegetables provide more of certain nutrients than fresh versions. You can use them when you want without them going off, which cuts down on waste.

Remember to check supermarket own brand and economy ranges – these are often cheaper than branded items. Economy ranges for bread, dried pasta, rice and noodles are usually much cheaper and there may not always be much difference in taste.

Products like milk and cheese can be frozen so you can take advantage of special offers and store any extra you buy in the freezer.

When it comes to eating on a budget, staple foods like bread, potatoes, rice and pasta are generally very good value for money and are a nutritious part of a healthy diet. Baked potatoes are great as a cheap, healthy and filling meal and you can experiment with your favourite toppings – perhaps to use up leftover pasta sauce or stew. If baking potatoes in the oven, then you could make the most of having the oven on and add some extra potatoes. These can then be kept for a couple of days in the fridge (or longer in the freezer) and microwaved for a quick meal another time. Rice and pasta are great, economical store cupboard ingredients and can be served warm with sauces, curries and stews or used cold as the base for a salad, which can be a good way of using up any leftover pasta or rice you have cooked.  *Information taken from http://www.nutrition.org.uk/putting-it-into-practice/ make-healthier-choices/healthy-eating-on-a-budget/

NHS Wales Advice for eating on a budget

Many families are currently feeling the impact from the rising cost of living, and continuing to buy healthy foods can become strenuous on a tight budget.

Eating a healthy balanced diet and regular meals is essential for anyone to maintain good health including a healthy body weight and can help you feel your best. Ensuring that you are getting the right nutrients can strengthen your immune system and protect you against serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Here are a few things you can do to help your food budget stretch a little further and maintain a healthy diet during these challenging times:

• Cooking at home and from scratch is a good way to save on your shopping bill, and can be healthier than pre-packaged food or ready meals. You can find more information on nutrition and healthy eating choices through Nutrition Skills for Life.
• Plan your meals for the week ahead to help budget your shopping list.
• Buy whole foods in bigger quantities i.e. a large bag of uncooked rice as opposed to packaged microwave rice pouches.
• Double-check sell-by dates in supermarkets to avoid items going off quickly at home. How you store your food can make a difference to how long it lasts. Many foods including bread, milk and cheese can be frozen until you need them.
• Batch cook meals so that they can be reheated later in the week.
• Use your leftovers for lunches to avoid waste. The Love Food Hate Waste portion planner is a great way to find out the correct portion sizes for your meals so you are not throwing food away.
• Cupboard staples such as rice, pasta, lentils, tinned fruit and vegetables can create lots of quick and tasty meals at low cost.

View further tips and recipes for eating healthily on a budget:

• View budget dinner recipes on the BBC Good Food website
• Read a blog about eating well in a small kitchen on the Cardiff Food website
• Access Food Cardiff’s ‘Get Cooking’ recipe ideas

Morrisons has a permanent ‘kids eat free’ offer for every adult meal purchased over £4.99.

Morrisons supermarket is offering free Heinz Beanz meals to its customers in its cafes this October, and there is no catch. The supermarket is collaborating with the baked beans giant to offer a hearty jacket potato with baked beans to any customer who “asks for Henry”. The free Heinz Beanz meals will be available at all of Wales’ Morrisons cafes from October 26, while stocks last.

Asda has announced a range of new ‘winter warmer’ initiatives to support customers and community groups struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The supermarket is offering those aged 60 and over the chance to enjoy soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffees for just £1 in any of its 205 cafes all day and every day throughout November and December.

The new initiative will run alongside the current ‘Kids eat for £1’ offer that has no requirement to buy an adult meal at the same time.

Cardiff’s Hubs and Libraries network will be providing warm welcome spaces from Monday October 10, residents concerned about rising costs of heating their own homes over the winter months will be able to visit their local hub or library and find a warm welcome in store. The warm welcome spaces are part of the Council’s response to supporting city residents through the cost of living crisis by providing heated spaces in its community buildings where people can pop in for a free hot drink, have a chat with staff and others, and if they wish, find out about any services available in the hub that could support them.

People are welcome to call into any of the city’s hubs or libraries during their usual opening hours. Visit https://cardiffhubs.co.uk/ for details. (Butetown Pavilion’s warm welcome space will be open from 9am to 5pm).

As part of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s work to support citizens during the cost-of-living crisis, they have developed a Warm Spaces scheme. The aim is to provide residents in the Vale with a network of community spaces that offer a warm and inviting place to come together this winter at no cost, and that offer a ‘Warm Welcome’ to different parts of our communities.

Visit https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/living/Cost-of-Living/Warm-Spaces.aspx for more information and to find your nearest warm space. 

 

Financial worries and health concerns can impact mood, leading to stress and anxiety, as well as a loss of motivation. Sharing your worries or concerns with a trusted friend or family member can help you to decompress, as well as allowing you to feel emotionally connected to those around you, minimising feelings of loneliness. It is also important to check in on others, particularly older or vulnerable people who may be suffering in silence. Connecting with neighbours, family and your community is the best way to protect your own mental health and support others in need.

Exercise can also play a key part in protecting your mental health. Getting outside daily can boost your energy levels, alertness and can contribute towards a positive mood. Regular physical activity can increase your self-esteem and can reduce the risk of stress, anxiety and depression.

If you are struggling it is important to reach out for help, and there are services which can help you. See our wellbeing page for useful tips and information.