I want to make it as easy as possible for Cardiff East constituents to access any help they may be entitled to to ease the current burden.

Below I’ve included links to support for utilities, and any benefits or discounts you may be entitled to – and some links to support agencies who will be able to assist you if needed.

I’ll be continually updating this list as I receive more information.

 

Welsh Government support

Free School Meals

Free school breakfasts are available for all children in Wales.

Free school meals are available to all Primary School pupils and Secondary School pupils who meet the eligibility criteria.

Find out whether your child is eligible here.

Pupil Development Grant

Helps families with the costs of the school day and can be used for items such as school uniform and equipment.

Learners currently eligible for free school meals can apply for the grant of £125 per learner, and £200 for those learners entering year 7, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.

Find out whether your child is eligible here. 

Help with childcare costs

The Childcare Offer for Wales provides up to 30 hours of government-funded early education and childcare to eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds for 48 weeks of the year.

Click here to apply.

Utilities

Winter Fuel Payment

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for Winter 2024 to 2025 if you were born before 23 September 1958 and receive one of the following:

  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income Support

Check how much Winter Fuel Payment you can get and how to claim it here.

Cold Weather Payments

Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.

You’ll get a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific temperature for a set period of time.

You’ll only be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment if you already get:

  • Pension Credit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit

If you’re eligible, you’ll get paid automatically. Find out more about Cold Weather Payments here.

Welsh Water HelpU tariff

The HelpU tariff helps the lowest income households in our region. If you qualify, we will cap your water bill so you won’t pay over a certain amount for the year.

If you have a water meter, you will never pay more than the amount you have used. If your consumption is less than the HelpU cap amount, you will only be billed for the amount of water you have used.

Find out more about the HelpU tariff here.

Broadband and mobile phones

If you are concerned about paying your broadband or mobile bill, you should contact your supplier immediately. They may be able to put a payment plan or other support in place to help you stay connected.

Find out more about cheaper broadband and phone packages here.

National Energy Action

Directly supports people with energy and income maximisation advice and we advocate on issues including improving the energy efficiency of our homes.

If you or someone you know can’t afford to heat their home NEA offer a range of advice and support directly to people in need.

Call 0800 304 7159, Monday to Friday 10.00 am-12.00 noon

Click here for more.

 

Housing

Discretionary housing payments

Applies to both social and private sectors

It can provide extra money when your local authority decides that you need extra help to meet your housing costs on top of what benefit support you already receive through the DWP.

In order to receive the Discretionary Housing Payments, it is necessary to either already be receiving the old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing cost contribution element through Universal Credit.

Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment here. For help to complete the form, or to pick up a paper copy to complete, visit​ your local Hub.

  

Benefit Entitlement

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs which is paid monthly. You may be eligible to apply if you are working but on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644

Welsh language: 0800 328 1744

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

New Style Employment & Support Allowance

If you are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

New Style ESA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit (UC). If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.

New Style ESA is a contributory benefit. Normally, this means you may be able to get it if you’ve paid or been credited with enough National Insurance contributions in the 2 full tax years before the year, you’re claiming in.

To be eligible for the New Style ESA you usually need to have been working within the last 2 to 3 years and have made (or been credited with) Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions. This can be through employment or self–employment.

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

New Style Job Seekers Allowance

You might be eligible for New Style Job Seeker’s Allowance to help you when you look for work, either on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit. If you’re unemployed or work less than 16 hours a week you may be able to get New Style Job Seeker’s Allowance.

Visit: http://gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/apply-newstyle-jsa

Personal Independence Payment

Payments to support the cost of living for individuals who:

  • Have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
  • Difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/pip

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension. You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

Call 0800 99 1234 or visit https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim to apply.

Where to get help

Citizens Advice

Citizen’s Advice Cymru offers free, confidential advice on a range of issues including money, debt and benefits. To speak to an adviser, please call 03444 77 20 20 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or visit https://cacv.org.uk/.

Age Cymru

Age Cymru Advice offers free, confidential and impartial support service. They can help older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals with information and advice on matters affecting older people.

To find out more, call 0300 303 398 between 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday to Friday or email advice@agecymru.org.uk.

Care and Repair

Care and Repair provides information, advice and practical services that help older people in Wales stay safe, warm and well at home. They fit disability aids and adaptations, supply home maintenance services, help maximise income and access grants, and make homes safe to return to from hospital.

To find out more, call 0300 111 3333. Even if you think that you do not ordinarily qualify for financial support you could now be eligible for some help with day to day living costs.

Visit: https://www.careandrepair.org.uk/en/your-area/care-repair-cardiff-and-vale/services/

Money Advice Service, Cardiff

Can offer help and support in a number of areas such as budgeting, income maximisation and managing debt.

Drop-in services are available at Central Library Hub or one of their Outreach Surgeries.

Visit: https://www.cardiffmoneyadvice.co.uk/

Speakeasy Advice Centre, Cardiff

Speakeasy Law Centre offers free legal advice to help resolve problems with debt, welfare benefits, housing and employment law.

Call: 0292045 3111

Visit: https://www.speakeasy.cymru/

Breathing Space Scheme

Breathing Space (sometimes called the ‘Debt Respite Scheme’) is a free UK Government scheme that could give you up to 60 days’ space from creditors to focus on getting debt advice and setting up a debt solution.

If you apply and are eligible, all creditors are informed and must stop any collection or enforcement activity. You’ll still need to keep making your regular payments if you can afford to.

For more information on the scheme, click here.

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