Cost of living help

Benefits information

Maximise your income and double check your right to benefits.

Help to Claim is a national helpline run by Citizens Advice. For Universal Credit claims telephone 0800 144 8444.

Household Support Fund

If you are struggling with money and are on a low income, you may be able to apply for the Household Support Fund.

Help with your application

You can get help with your application form at your local Citizens Advice office. You could also ask a trusted friend or family member to complete the form for you.

Extra money for living costs with Pension Credit

Pension credit is extra money for living costs and unlocks help with:

• heating costs
• NHS treatment
• housing benefit
• support for mortgage interest
• council tax discount
• free TV licence (over 75s)

This is for people over the state pension age and on a low income. Find out more about Pension Credit.

Problems paying your council tax  

If you're having problems paying your Council Tax, contact us and we'll do all we can to help.

See our Council Tax pages for further advice about what to do if you have problems paying your Council Tax.

Money advice including debts and bills

Visit the Citizens Advice Dorset website for free, independent and confidential advice.

Charitable grants

Help may be available through a charitable grant and other support, depending on your circumstances and needs. Search for charitable grants.

Get help with savings if you’re on a low income (Help to Save)

Help to Save is a savings account. It allows those who are entitled to Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit to get an additional 50p for every £1 they save.

Help to Save is backed by the government so all savings in the scheme are secure. Find out more about the Help to Save scheme.

Carers allowance

You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to or live with the person you care for. Find out more about Carers Allowance.

Carers Card providing discounts for unpaid carers

Sign up to the Carers Information Service to receive your Carers Card for discounts across Dorset including opticians, insurance, holistic treatments and eating out. 

Get help to quit smoking and save money 

Stopping smoking will save a lot of money and is beneficial to your health at any age. Visit Public Health Dorset for advice and information about stopping smoking.

Find foodbanks, community fridges and affordable food

Don’t skip meals to pay bills. Visit the Help and Kindness website for information on local foodbanks, community fridges and affordable food.

Foodbanks

Food banks are run by the community for the community. Donated food is distributed to those in need or in an emergency.

Each foodbank has its own system for supporting those in need. Many use a referral system, this is when an organisation helps you with other needs and also gives you a referral number for the foodbank. You will usually be issued a voucher for three days' worth of food. They may also provide other items such as toiletries.

Community shops (social supermarkets)

A community shop or pantry will provide cheaper, good quality and nutritious food to people who have limited disposable income. Food may include fresh fruit and veg, store cupboard favourites, bread, dairy products and frozen items.

You sign up to become a member and can then choose a set number of items for an agreed price each week. Community shops also work to reduce food waste by linking with supermarkets and making fresh food accessible for a low cost or free.

Community fridges

A community fridge can be accessed by anyone in the community, and anyone can give to or take food from the fridge. Community fridges:

• help share fresh food within a community
• reduce food waste
• give people facing hardship easy access to fresh, nutritious food

There are some rules on what you can and cannot put in the fridge for health and safety reasons. Check this when you visit. 

Help and Kindness have been working to map warm spaces across Dorset where you can drop in and keep warm.

Help is available to support you and we would encourage you not to wait until it is too late as early intervention can make a lot of difference. 

We have Tenancy Sustainment Officers whose role is to work with struggling households to support them. We can:

• help you talk to your landlord or lender about the issues and negotiate solutions
• signpost you for additional help with debts 
• help you make benefit claims to maximise your income
• help you prepare a household budget plan
• signpost you and help you get help from other places such as through grants, discretionary housing payments and the household support grant scheme
• help you get access to a foodbank or other emergency help

Get help with your mortgage

If you are struggling to meet your mortgage payments there is advice available to help.

Healthy Homes Dorset

Healthy Homes Dorset can offer all Dorset residents free, impartial energy advice over the phone, and eligible residents free loft and wall insulation. Free heating improvements may also be available.

Contact us

If you are worried you may lose your home, or are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage please contact us, we will do all we can to support and help you. 

You can also get cost of living advice and tips from Which? and StepChange on coping with the cost of living.

Dorset Home Upgrade Grant 

The scheme enables Dorset homeowners and private renters to access funded energy saving measures such as:

• loft and cavity wall insulation
• external wall insulation
• heating upgrades
• air source heat pumps
• solar panels

The scheme will help reduce energy use and fuel costs for those who live in lower energy rated homes (EPC D to G) and heat their homes with a fuel other than mains gas such as:

• electric heaters
• oil and LPG boilers
• solid fuel heating

HUG 2 is the second phase of the Home Upgrade Grant and is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. To find out more and apply visit the Home Upgrade Grant website. 

Need housing advice? Don’t leave it too late 

Renters, homeowners, landlords and letting agents are being urged to act now if they are struggling financially or know someone who needs support. 

We are working with Shelter and Citizens Advice to offer help with a range of issues including: 

• rent or mortgage arrears 
• debt advice 

We’re here to assist with anything housing-related that’s not going as planned. So, if this affects you or someone you know, please get in touch. 

Our service is free, confidential, and non-judgemental. 

Call 01305 221000 or email housinghelp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk 

Reusable Nappies

Dorset Council offers parents a free reusable nappy starter pack or £30 off reusable nappies (minimum spend £45).

If you apply before 31 March 2024 you could also win one of two reusable nappy sets worth £80 each in our prize draw! So if you know anyone in the Dorset Council area who would be eligible to apply, please let them know.

See further information about the reusable nappy scheme including how to apply.

Free school meals

Find out if your child is eligible for free school meals by completing our checker. If they are, they can also enjoy free holiday clubs and their school or childcare setting will receive extra funding (called the Pupil Premium).

Healthy Start vouchers

See how to access vouchers to buy basic food items. This is for pregnant women and families on a low income with a child under 4.

Childcare funding

See the options available to help childcare costs from age 0 to 15.

Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme (under Free school meals) 

HAF programme means we can offer fun activities and tasty meals free of charge to children who are eligible for benefit-related school meals. Find out more including how to apply.

Safe cycling 

Gaining cycling skills early on is important for a child’s safety and confidence and will enable them to cycle to school and enjoy trips with family and friends. Ask your child’s school about Bikeability training courses.

Household Support Fund

If you are struggling with money and are on a low income, you may be able to apply for the Household Support Fund.

Apply now

Help with your application 

You can get help with your application form at your local Citizens Advice office. You could also ask a trusted friend or family member to complete the form for you.

Extra money for living costs with Pension Credit

Pension credit is extra money for living costs and unlocks helps with:

• heating costs
• NHS treatment
• housing benefit
• support for mortgage interest
• Council Tax discount
• free TV licence (over 75s)

This is for people over the state pension age and on a low income. Find out more about Pension Credit.

Information and support from Age UK

Age UK provides free and confidential support to older people, their families and carers. This includes information on:

• housing
• money
• benefits
• health and wellbeing
• relieving loneliness

For further information contact:

• North, South and West Dorset Age UK
• Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset Age UK

Winter Fuel Payment 

Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment for households that include someone born on or before 25 September 1957 (for 2023-24). It's designed to help you cover your heating costs in winter. 

Most people get the Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they’re eligible. 

If you’re eligible, you’ll get a letter in October or November saying how much you’ll get. 

If you do not get a letter but you think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.

If your life or someone else's life is in danger call 999 immediately.

If you are struggling now, or if you are worried about someone else, there are places you can go to get support. You can:

• call Samaritans on 116 123
• call Connection, Dorset's mental health helpline, on 0800 652 0190
• text SHOUT to 85258

Mental health - Public Health Dorset

Visit the Public Health Dorset website for simple steps to taking care of our wellbeing and links to organisations that can help.

Help for people experiencing domestic abuse

Money worries can make life at home difficult, don’t suffer in silence. See details of the help available to those experiencing domestic abuse.

Reach Drug & Alcohol Services

Visit the Reach website If you’re worried about your use of drugs and alcohol.

Alternative Fuel Grant

You may be eligible for financial support to help with your energy costs if you:

• have no mains gas and use coal, oil, wood or gas bottles to heat your home
• live in a park home
• live in a house with multiple occupation (HMO)
• are from the traveller community

To apply contact your local Citizens Advice office. Visit the Citizens Advice website to find your local office or call the Dorset Adviceline on 0800 144 8848.

Discretionary Energy Bills Rebate

Funding for residents in Council Tax bands E to H is now available to help households who do not qualify under the core Energy Rebate scheme. This is a discretionary fund and will be used to support those suffering financial hardship as a result of the rising cost of living and will include support for those households who have not been eligible for previous rounds of support.

Funds are limited and applications are only open until Friday 18 November.

Read more to find out whether you can apply

Getting help if you can't afford your energy bills

Visit the Ofgem website for advice and support with high energy bills.

Energy grants checker

Check your eligibility for energy company grants.

Energy saving advice

See our quick fixes and longer term ideas to save energy.

Energy advice from Citizens Advice

Call the Citizens Advice Energy Unit on 01929 775500 or email energy@edpcitizensadvice.org.uk for free and impartial advice on energy.

Difficulty paying your water bill

Your water provider can offer support if you are struggling to pay your water bills:

• visit the Wessex Water website
• visit the South West Water website

Cheaper broadband and phone packages

Visit the Ofcom website for Information on cheaper tariffs for eligible households. 

Healthy Homes Dorset

Healthy Homes Dorset can offer all Dorset residents free, impartial energy advice over the phone, and eligible residents free loft and wall insulation. Free heating improvements may also be available.

Rights at work from Citizens Advice

Visit Citizens Advice for free, independent and confidential advice if you are worried about your job.

Money advice including debts and bills

Visit the Citizens Advice Dorset website for free, independent and confidential advice.

Charitable grants

Help may be available through a charitable grant and other support, depending on your circumstances and needs.

Benefits checker

Check that you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to.