Benefits and money advice

Find out about benefits you could be entitled to.

Find out how Universal Credit could help you, see understanding Universal Credit.

If you are a council tenant in H&F, our Welfare Benefits Team can provide welfare rights advice including debt advice, support to identify benefit entitlement and apply for grants. Contact us about benefits.

H&F benefit calculator

H&F Benefit calculator (entitledto.co.uk)

Pensions credit calculator

If you're older, please have a look at the Pension Credit calculator.

To use these calculators you’ll need information about savings, income, pension, childcare payments and any existing benefits (for you and your partner).

Help for Households campaign

Income support - Help for Households

Cost of Living Payments

The government has announced further Cost of Living Payments between spring 2023 and spring 2024. These payments are automatic for the following:

£301 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during spring 2023
£150 for people on an eligible disability benefit, to be paid during summer 2023
£300 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during autumn 2023
£300 for pensioner households, to be paid during winter 2023 to 2024
£299 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid in spring 2024

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.

H&F Cost of Living Payment

If you have received a payment of £250 into your bank account on 14 and 19 December with the reference 'H&F Cost of Living Payment', please be assured that this payment is from us to help with the continuing cost of high energy bills through this cost of living crisis.

You will receive a letter in a few days to explain more about why you have received this payment.

Please note, there is no application process for this payment. If you are in financial crisis please make an application for the Crisis Prevention Scheme below.

If you have received the letter regarding the £250 Cost of Living Payment you will need you to complete our very quick and easy online form.

You will be asked to validate your details to ensure we are paying the right person, this means you have to register your details if you are using the system for the first time. Don’t worry, the form will guide you and this information will not be shared with anyone else.

Most importantly to unlock your £250 you will need to enter your unique passcode that is included in your letter. Please make sure you select the relevant form linked below.

Household Support Housing Benefits Cost of Living Payment

For support for households with disabilities go to Household Support Households With Disabilities Cost of Living Payment

Crisis Prevention Scheme

You may be able to get up to £900 to help deal with a financial emergency if you don't have enough money for basics like food, gas and electricity.

Apply for a crisis prevention payment

Financial help if you are disabled

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

Cost of living support: If you’re disabled or have a health condition - GOV.UK

Organisations that can advise about benefits and financial difficulties

Need help with your household bills? Get tips from MoneySavingExpert.

Want some free and impartial money advice? Try the Money Advice Service.

Want to learn more about how to build your own budget, ways to balance it and how to set money aside for regular bills? Like to pick up some practical tools and tips to use in your daily life?

Try Crosslight's free interactive money skills course. It's available online and face-to-face.

Or if you’re looking for an even quicker way to create a budget, why not try a budgeting app?

Find out about budgeting apps on the Which? website.

If you need help to reduce your regular living costs, try these ideas from Citizens Advice.

AGE UK

Age UK Warm Home Programme: the programme helps in 3 key ways:
• benefit entitlement checks
• home energy checks
• providing advice

Age UK Warm Home Programme

Crosslight

0300 3730 1180

appointments@crosslightadvice.org

Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm

Crosslight offers free, impartial debt advice to anyone struggling with problem debt. Book an appointment with their advisers to get started, you can meet them at one of Crosslight's branches or arrange to speak to them on the phone if easier.

Citizens Advice Hammersmith & Fulham

General enquiries: 0300 330 1162

Help to claim Universal Credit: 0800 144 8444

Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm

Get help with the cost of living - Citizens Advice

Money Helper

Money Helper provides advice on how to save on gas and electricity and what help is available to households who are concerned about paying their bills or missing a payment.

How to reduce your energy bills | MoneyHelper