Cost of living support

Paying for your gas, electricity and water

Find out what support is available to help you pay for or reduce your electricity, gas and water bills.

Help with food

Ideas on how to make meals go further and information on local food banks and community kitchens.

Help for families with children

Find out how you can get help with childcare costs, school meals and financial support with baby costs.

Get help with your broadband and phone packages

Ideas and support available to help you reduce your broadband and phone costs.

Improve the energy efficiency of your home

Find out how you can save money by making your home more energy efficient.

Paying your rent or mortgage

Support and advice if you are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage.

Benefits and money advice

Find out about benefits you could be entitled to and how to get extra support in a crisis.

Help with council tax

Find out if you can get help with paying your council tax.

Employment and training

Make the most of our learning and employment services to find local job and training opportunities

Free and discounted travel options

Find out if you're eligible for free and discounted travel on TfL services.

Financial help if you are disabled

Visit GOV.UK to find out about the wide range of disability-related financial support available.

Frequently asked questions

FAQs about the support available from the council.

Need a warm and friendly place to go?

We have activity hubs, Warm Welcomes, across the borough where you’ll get a friendly welcome to participate in activities and keep warm, have a free or low-cost healthy meal or just get some advice.

For details of opening hours and activities visit our warm welcomes page.

Contact us

Cost-of-living crisis team

The cost-of-living crisis team can help you to access support for the cost-of-living crisis. The team can provide guidance and advice on services and support across the council and wider.

You can:

get a fast response by sending us a message using our cost-of-living enquiry form
contact us on our free phone number 0800 917 6994. The line is open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
visit us at 145 King Street in Hammersmith, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Alternatively, you can email us at costoflivingteam@lbhf.gov.uk

Or use our web assistant to help you find the information you need. You can ask for help from an advisor during office hours. See the speech icon in bottom-right corner of the screen.

Welfare benefits team

Council tenants can contact the welfare benefits team advice line direct on 020 8753 5566 or email welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk

Beware of loan sharks

At this difficult time, we’re aware that vulnerable residents are being offered loans at astronomical rates of interest.

You can report loan sharks to the Illegal Money Lending Team, organised by Trading Standards. Please do not let them prey on you or your loved ones.

For more details, visit Stop the Loan Sharks.

The website provides information on how loan sharks work and will help you avoid them – especially as some masquerade as friends.

Help on GOV.UK

Help for Households campaign

Help for Households - Get government cost-of-living support

Cost of Living Payments

For guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits see Cost of Living Payments (GOV.UK)

If you need advice on how to claim these benefits please call our cost-of-living crisis team on 0800 917 6994.

Cost-of-living guide

Our cost-of-living guide, sent out to all H&F residents, is packed with details about the help you can get – including many new, innovative sources of assistance.

Read our 'cost-of-living guide' on Yumpu.com or download it as a pdf file.

Cost-of-living guide booklet (PDF, 1.12MB)