Get help with the cost of living

Get cost of living support about:

money and benefits and managing debt
access to food
housing
support for children
support for adults and older people
energy, water, phone and broadband
employment
mental health and wellbeing

If you are struggling with the cost of living, help and support is available. Use the sections below to find information on financial support, food, housing, energy costs, employment, wellbeing and other services that you may find useful.

You can also visit:

GOV.UK for information on national cost of living support
Citizens Advice for free independent advice on benefits, debt, housing and employment issues
Which? for practical cost of living advice and money-saving tips

Money, benefits and managing debt

Advice for managing money, including budgeting advice and debt support and discover what benefits and financial support you could get.
Access to food

Find information about food banks, community food projects, affordable food schemes and emergency support if you're struggling to access food.
Housing

Information on housing support, help with rent, homelessness advice and services that can help you stay in your home or find accommodation if needed.
Energy, water, phone and broadband

Grants, discounts, affordable tariffs and other support to help reduce the cost of utilities.
Support for children

Help available with financial support, school costs, childcare, free school meals and other services to help children, young people and families with the cost of living.
Support for adults and older people

Support with finances, care services, benefits and wellbeing resources to help adults and older people manage the cost of living and maintain their independence.
Mental health and wellbeing

Emotional wellbeing, mental health support services, crisis help and practical advice to help you cope with the pressures of the cost of living.
Employment

Find information about employment support, workplace rights, training opportunities and advice to help you increase your income and manage the impact of rising living costs.

Access to food

Free breakfast club (FBC) programme

A government-funded initiative to help schools with primary-aged pupils, offer free breakfast before the school day starts.
The Friendly Food Club

Safe, inclusive spaces where people come together to cook, learn, eat, and build their skills, healthy habits, confidence and self-esteem.

Improve your knowledge about food, shopping and get help for your food budget to stretch.
Find food banks, community fridges and community shops (social supermarkets)

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Housing

The Crisis Resilience Fund Housing Payment

Previously known as the Discretionary Housing Payment, this provides short‑term financial help if you're struggling to cover your housing costs.
Get help with your mortage

The current cost of living crisis is putting a squeeze on everyone’s household budgets. We can give you advice and support to help manage paying your mortgage.
Grants and loans for homes in disrepair

We offer a range of financial help to home owners, tenants and landlords to carry out works of repair, improvement or adaptation.
Homelessness and housing advice

If you are faced with homelessness or at risk of losing your home, get in touch with us as soon as possible. We are here to help.

Housing Benefit

This helps you pay your rent if you're on a low income. Claiming Housing Benefit won't affect any other benefits you get.
Rent in advance and deposit schemes

We can help people who are homeless, or facing homelessness, to access private rented accommodation.
Major home adaptions

See if you are eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to help with a major or complex adaptation.
Emergency local assistance fund

This is for situations where individuals or families face an immediate risk to their health and safety and have tried all other types of support. It can be used to buy essential white goods, furniture, emergency utilities (water, gas and electricity)

Support for children

Children and family benefits

See what benefits and financial help you could get for your family.
Mental health and wellbeing for children and young people

Discover the range of support available from a range of organisations.
Free school meals for children

Check if your child is eligible for free school meals.
School uniform and financial support

School uniform grants (also known as school clothing grants).

Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

Funding from the Department for Education's (DfE) holiday activities and food programme means we can offer fun activities and tasty food free of charge to children who are in receipt of benefit-related or targeted free school meals.
Funding, grants and financial support

For families with children and young people with SEN or disabiities.
Reusable Nappies

We offer parents a free reusable nappy starter pack or £30 off reusable nappies (minimum spend £45).

Find out more and apply for one of the reusable nappies incentive schemes online.
Healthy Start vouchers

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

Childcare funding

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

Support for older people

Live well advice for adults

It's easy to put off thinking about our future: our finances or our fitness, where we'll live and who we'll spend time with. But we can all take small steps now to live well in the years to come.
Dorset Community Transport Directory

Community Transport can get you where you need to be and help you to make essential journeys to places like the hospital, doctors, dentists, opticians and some offer transport for shopping and social trips.
Bus passes and concessionary travel

Apply for a range of Dorset bus passes, some of which can also be used for travel further afield.
Extra money for living costs with 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. It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

Help when you need it

Sometimes you may need a bit of extra support to help you keep going and prevent things getting worse. Find out what is available in your community.
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 in addition to
relieving loneliness
Winter Fuel

If you were born on or before 27 June 1960 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.
Eat well at home

Eating a varied diet will help you stay well. If you need to, ask people you know to help you do your food shopping.

Energy, water, phone and broadband

Help with your energy bills

Warm Home Discount Scheme / Cold Weather Payments / GOV.UK
Grants and payments to help you pay your energy bills

Citizens Advice
Help for low-income households with oil heating

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Dorset Energy Bus

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck

Getting help with mobile data

We have teamed up with the Good Things Foundation charity to help people in digital need.
Warm spaces and warm hubs

The community directory Help & Kindness have a list of places where you can drop in and keep warm.
Healthy Homes Dorset

Get free, impartial energy advice over the phone, and eligible residents free loft and wall insulation. Free heating improvements may also be available.
Save energy and reduce your carbon footprint

There are lots of things you, as an individual, can do right now to help in the fight against climate change and save money at the same time.

Employment

Managing debt

Advice about personal fraud

Advice from Dorset Police
GamCare

Founder of the National Gambling Helpline
Support for residents caught out by fraud or scams

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StepChange debt charity

Get help with urgent money matters if you are facing an emergency.

Mental health and wellbeing

LiveWell Dorset

Helping people in Dorset lead healthier, happier lives.
Mental health

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it's something that affects us all. Whether you're experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenge, know that you are not alone. It's okay to seek help, and it's okay to talk about it.
Mental health and wellbeing for children and young people

Find mental health and wellbeing support for a child or young person.
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.

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