The last few years have been unprecedented and have seen pressures from COVID-19 to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine build. These events have created a socio-economic challenge for us all around the globe. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the effects of these challenges on our household bills and general expenses. The Government have introduced a £37 billion support package to help households against these rising costs. The support package includes -
Cost of Living Payment: The Chancellor has announced a direct one-off cost of living payment of £650 for more than eight million households on means-tested benefits, worth £5.4 billion. There will be two lump sums paid directly into claimants' bank accounts – the first from July, the second in the Autumn. This will be paid automatically into your bank account.
If you receive a disability benefit, you will be entitled to a £150 disability cost of living payment which will be paid from September 2022. To qualify, you must have received a disability benefit payment on or before 25th May 2022. This will be paid automatically into your bank account.
If you are a pensioner, you will be entitled to a pensioner cost of living payment of £300 which will be paid with your normal payment if you are entitled to Winter Fuel Payment. For more information on the cost of living payment and eligibility, please see here.
Energy Bills Support: From October, there will be a £400 grant for all households, which does not have to be paid back. Households will see a discount of £66 applied to their energy bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December through to March 2023. The non-repayable discount will be provided on a monthly basis regardless of whether consumers pay monthly, quarterly or have an associated payment card.
Council Tax Support: All households living in Council Tax Bands A-D will also receive a £150 non-repayable Council Tax rebate.
Help with Prescription Costs: Cost of prescriptions will be frozen for the first time in over a decade to will ease the cost of living pressures on households, saving £17 million overall. the NHS Low Income scheme offers help with prescription payments, with free prescriptions for eligible people within certain groups such as pensioners, students, and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes. You may be able to get free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and help with other NHS costs.
Fuel Duty: Since March 2022, fuel duty has been cut by 5 pence per litre across the UK to keep the cost of fuel down.
You can find out more about the government support available here - Help For Households
Cost of Living Support for Walsall North Residents
Heating, Energy and Water
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’, this will include the pensioner cost of living payment.
You’ll get a Cold Weather Payment if you're getting certain benefits or support for mortgage interest. you will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
Not being able to afford to heat or power your home can be very worrying and stressful. It's important to continue paying these bills and there's help available from your supplier if you're struggling before you get into debt. There is advice and guidance available if you are unable to pay your energy bills.
Many water companies run hardship schemes or fund independent charitable trusts which can help you pay your bills. Discount Schemes are also being offered by Severn Trent Water and South Staffs Water.
Walsall Council also have additional advice guidance available on keeping your home warm and water services and discounts.
Money and Finances
Make sure that you are getting the financial support that you could be entitled to by using government Benefits Calculators. You may also be able to get tax relief or financial support available from HMRC.
Citizens Advice Walsall can help support you with your utility bills, financial support, benefits, pension, debt and legal advice.
Review your household budget. Money Helper is an independent service that has online budget planning tools to help you manage your household finances. It also joins up money and pensions guidance to make it quicker and easier to find the right help, Money Helper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.
Dont wait until its too late to take action on debt. StepChange provide free expert debt advice and can recommend solutions for your situation.
Avoid loan sharks. If you are offered money with little paperwork and high charges it could be a loan shark. You can safely report loan sharks and get help online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk.
You can find out if might be entitled to a grant here.
Mental Health
There several local support services who can provide advice on mental health, wellbeing and much more. The Let's Chat bus can be found across Walsall. The Sanctuary Hub in Bloxwich offers out of hours support - you can pop in or call 0800 008 6516. You can also self-refer for online therapy services through Walsall Talking Therapies. You can also find advice and support about mental health from Rethink and Mind.
If you need urgent support please phone 999. You can also get contact Samaritans 24/7 for free by phoning 116 123.
Employment and Training
The Government have lots of advice on finding a job, apprenticeships and getting skills and training to help your career.
You can search and apply for jobs in your area on the DWP website, Walsall Works
Walsall Council also holds Work Clubs for unemployed people to exchange skills and gain experience across different fields. You can also job support, tips and advice at Job Help.
If you're aged between 19-26 and out of employment or education, Walsall Impact offer one to one support and advice on finding a job, further education and free training as well as sign up to range of traineeships with the help of an advisor
I am also holding a Job Fair on 14th October for jobseekers to find out more about opportunities and training available in Walsall North and beyond!
If you are unemployed and have been offered an interview for a new role, Timpsons offer a free dry-cleaning service.
Food and Shopping
- Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Iceland are providing a range of discounts and offers that may help with the cost of living.
- Have a free hot meal at FoodCycle, Bloxwich Parish Churches and Hub for Grub Willenhall.
- Get food from restaurants and takeaways at reduced prices on the Too Good to Go App.
- Visit a local foodbank Bloxwich and Blakenall Foodbank or Bridging the Gap in Willenhall.
- Walsall Council also has a number of charities who can help with with the cost of uniforms, equipment and household items and an emergency support for those in need of help.
Housing and Homelessness
Walsall Council offer advice on finding a home and support if you're worried about becoming homeless through their Housing and Welfare Support Service.
You can contact local housing associations such as whg, Watmos, GreenSquare Accord and Longhurst Group.
You can also apply for discretionary housing payment to get short term support if you are finding it difficult to cover the the costs of rent.
Travel and Transport
Walsall North Residents may be eligible for an older person's free bus pass, a disabled person's free bus pass, a third off rail journeys and 50% off rail travel if you are on universal credit.
Walsall Council also provides assistance with Home to School Transport.
West Midlands bus fares will be frozen at the current rate until 2025, meaning bus fares will stay at the same price as in 2013.
Children Young People and Families
- Free Childcare - All 3 and 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare a year. You can choose to take the hours when you want. For example, you could have 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. Some 3 to 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours free childcare a week. Check if you’re eligible and find out how to apply. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible.
- Free School Meals - All pupils reception, year 1 and year 2 will automatically receive a school meal free of charge if they're in a government-funded school. Your child(ren) may also be eligible for free school meals if you are in receipt on benefits - you can find out more and apply here.
- Walsall Holiday Activity Programme - Walsall Council offer a free and exciting holiday programme for children and young people aged 5 to 16 who are eligible for benefit related free school meals. The programme runs over the Easter (1 week), summer(4 weeks) and Christmas(1 week) school holidays and is funded by the Department for Education (DfE). You can find out more about the scheme here.
- Healthy Start - Pregnant women and families may qualify for the Healthy Start scheme which provides voucher to buy fresh and frozen vegetables, milk and vitamins.
Walsall Council also provide a range of other schemes for families in need of financial support.
Free Internet Access and Broadband
The UK’s biggest broadband and mobile operators - including BT Group, Openreach, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, Three, TalkTalk and Sky - have agreed to measures that will provide help customers struggling with the rising cost of living to stay connected. This includes by allowing customers who are struggling with their to bills move to cheaper packages without penalty or agreeing manageable payment plans, as well as exploring tariffs, options to improve existing low cost offers, and increasing promotion of existing deals.
Social tariffs can help if you're struggling to afford broadband or phone services. There is useful list of providers with social tariffs and Ofcom also has list of cheaper phone and broadband packages.
Libraries across Walsall also have a range of free services and free internet access. All local libraries in Walsall are now home to Walsall Connected advisors who can support you to access online council services, and help improve your digital skills.
If you have any questions or if I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me on 01922 477877 or email me at eddie.hughes@parliament.uk.