Financial advice and support is available from lots of organisations.
Related Documents
Help for Households - Cost of living support you could be eligible for
The Civil Service has launched the Help for Households campaign to draw together support packages that help ease the cost of living impact. There are 41 schemes available to support citizens, all of which can be found on the new Help for Households website
You may be eligible for a range of measures the government is offering to help with the cost of living. Find out what support is available by accessing the website.
Community Hubs
The Community Hubs, run by Blaenau Gwent Council operate in 7 locations across the borough.
They can help with all elements of community life including council tax schemes and reductions, benefits information and advice, applying for a blue badge and many more opportunities to help you save money where you can.
Find your nearest Hub and its opening times here.
From Monday 12th December, Citizens Advice are providing a weekly service in the Community Hubs 9.30am – 12.30pm on the following days:
Mondays – Tredegar library
Tuesdays – Ebbw Vale library
Wednesdays - Abertillery library
Thursdays – Blaina library
Fridays – Cwm library
Here are some schemes you may be able to access, and organisations that can offer advice and support:
Council Tax Discounts and Reductions
Council Tax is one of the biggest monthly bills for all households.
There are lots of schemes available to help ease this particular pressure, single occupancy reduction, mentally or physically disabled support, carers and low income households.
More information can also be found on the Council Website.
Discretionary Housing Payments
If you are receiving Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit, but are still finding it hard to pay your rent, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Contact: benefits@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk for further advice.
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive any of the
following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and
- Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the
- Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child Tax Credit (with an annual
- income less than £16,190)
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit with net household income of less than £7,400 (£616.67 monthly)
You can get more information and apply for the scheme by emailing:
Learners currently eligible for free school meals can apply for the grant of £225 per learner, and £300 for those learners entering year 7.
The scheme is open from 1st July 2022 and end on 30th June 2023
Find out more and apply today by emailing: benefits@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
If you were born one or before 25th September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills.
If you have received a Winter Fuel payment before, you will not need to claim again.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
£200 Wales Winter Fuel Support Scheme
Households responsible for paying their home energy bills and in receipt of an eligible benefit between 1st September 2022 to 31st January 2023 will receive £200 in the Autumn/Winter 2022/2023.
You are eligible if you are in receipt of the Guarantee credit element of Pension Credit or you are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.
If your application is successful, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31st March 2023.
Provides two types of grant that you do not need to pay back.
The Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) is 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
The Individual Assistance Payment and The Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) is to help you or someone you care for live independently in their home or a property they are moving in to.
The grant is to be used to pay for:
- A fridge, cooker, or washing machine and other white goods.
- Home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs.
If you’re having trouble affording to pay for your bill, Welsh Water have a number of ways they may be able to help you and make bills affordable.
Former Coal Miners £200 Grant
Former coal miners are eligible for a £200 grant to help with rising energy prices.
The grant comes via the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO).
To find out more about the grant, contact the Welsh CISWO office by phone on 01443 485233 or by emailing wales@ciswo.org.uk
Blaenau Gwent Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
The Trussell Trust runs the largest network of food banks in the UK, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis.
They work with local agencies, in order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation.
Dealing with money issues can sometimes be off-putting, but if you don't understand how things like credit or mortgages work, you could end up losing out financially or getting yourself deep in debt.
The Citizens Advice Bureau can give you the information you need to make the right choices.
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
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 (Croesawir galwadau yn Gymraeg / Calls are welcomed in Welsh). 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.
For a FREE healthy home check, call your local Care & Repair today on:
0300 111 3333
MoneyHelper is open to everyone and can help people clear their debts, reduce spending and make the most of their income.
They provide money guidance that's impartial and free to use and if they don’t know the answer, they’ll point you in the right direction of someone who does.
Credit Unions, Local community savings and loans
Credit unions offer an alternative to traditional banks and building societies for saving and borrowing. They can sometimes beat the rates on the high street.
A credit union is a community savings and loans provider.
To find out more about credit unions,
www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-union
Community Banks like Smart Money Cymru are not-for-profit financial organisations that are often set up by members who have what is a called a common bond to offer savings and loans.
Smart Money Cymru provide affordable loans and financial resilience with a range of saving accounts, working with stakeholders across Wales, providing financial education and supporting and donating to good causes.
MoneySavingExpert.com, the website founded by Martin Lewis, has a wide range of help and advice.
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