Cost Of Living Financial Stress

Cost Of Living Financial Stress

Help and information on cost of living support

Published 05/10/2022   |   Last Updated 05/07/2023   |   Reading Time minutes

Many households, businesses, charities and public sector organisations across Wales are facing considerable challenges from rising costs.

Senedd Research answers questions from Members and their staff through the usual enquiry process, but we’ve also collated some links to reliable information from official and reputable sources to help people in Wales.

The Welsh Government has a webpage for all its cost of living information, a page dedicated to the Wales fuel support scheme and local authorities will also provide information on the support available to help with the rising cost of living.

Advicelink Cymru is a Welsh Government funded Citizens Advice service designed to help those who are unsure about the benefits they can claim and claim what they are entitled to.

The UK Government also has a webpage to all its cost of living support, and the House of Commons Library produces regular articles on the increasing cost of living.

We will be updating this page regularly. If there is any information missing or something you would like to see included, please contact Senedd Research.

You can jump to each section below:

Assistance for households

Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has a single web page which provides advice and support on the cost of living. The main support for households are:

UK Government

The UK Government has a single page which links to all its cost of living support and an Energy bills support factsheet. The main support for households are:

  • A Cost of Living Payment which means individuals on certain benefits and tax credits may be entitled to a payment of £900 paid in three lump sums in 2023-24 of £301 (Spring 2023), £300 (Autumn 2023) and £299 (Spring 2024). If you haven’t received a 2022 Cost of Living Payment that you were eligible for, you can report it to the UK Government.
  • From July 2023, the Energy Price Cap for an annual energy bill of £2,074 for a typical UK household will be implemented, and will apply until the end of September 2023, as it is adjusted quarterly. The Energy Price Guarantee remains in place until the end of March 2024, however as prices will go down from July it will be held in reserve unless the typical energy bill for a household subsequently rises to above £3,000.
  • A Winter Fuel Payment for those born on or before 25 September 1956 who may automatically receive between £250 and £600 to help towards heating bills. The amount will include a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment of between £150 and £300 in winter 2023 to 2024. 
  • A £150 Disability Cost of Living payment is currently being made to people on qualifying disability benefits.
  • Budgeting Loans for people in receipt of certain benefits for at least six months to be spent on items such as furniture, white goods and costs associated with moving house.

Further assistance

In addition to support for the cost of living, there is a range of other benefits and financial support which is available. You can check eligibility via:

Business support

You can read our article for a summary of the challenges businesses across Wales are facing and support available to help with these.

Children, young people and education

Under 16 years of age

Over 16 years of age

Employment
Energy and water

Under regulator Ofgem’s rules, energy suppliers must work with customers to agree an affordable payment plan if they are worried about paying energy bills.

Energy suppliers recommend that customers contact them if they are worried about being able to pay energy bills. They are able to provide a range of support including grants, income maximisation, and providing energy-efficient appliances.

You can read our articles on the price of energy and fuel costs and fuel poverty.

Energy Suppliers

Citizens’ Advice has published details of grants that energy suppliers provide to customers in debt with their bills – typically for their own customers although the British Gas Energy Trust sometimes has grants available to customers of other energy suppliers.

Energy Advice

Energy efficiency support

Water

Equalities and vulnerable groups

You can read our articles on the impact of the rising cost of living on low-income households, unpaid carers and domiciliary care, and disabled people.

Carers and older people

Disabled people

Ethnic Minorities and migrant communities

Food banks and vouchers
Health and social care

Mental health

Our constituency guide provides information to help Members of the Senedd and their staff respond to constituents’ mental health concerns, and signpost people to relevant sources of support.

Housing

Tenants in social housing can contact the local authority or housing association they rent from for help and support. Anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness should contact their local authority.

Households concerned about paying their mortgages should speak to their lender as soon as possible. There are also support schemes and sources of advice available:

Sources of advice

Debt advice, savings and loans

Scams and consumer rights

Travel and transport

Public transport services

Concessionary fares

Multi-operator / multi journey tickets

  • Plusbus: bought with a train ticket, offers unlimited bus and tram travel around rail-served British towns and cities.
  • Ranger and Rover Tickets: Unlimited travel for one day on Transport for Wales Rail train services and some bus services on some parts of their network.
  • South East Wales Network Rider: A daily or weekly ticket valid on services run by a number of operators across South-East Wales.
  • 1Bws: bought on their first journey, a 1Bws ticket is valid for the day on virtually all local bus services operating in North Wales (Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey and Wrexham).

Active travel

Driving

Voluntary sector

Article by Claire Thomas and Gareth Thomas, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament

#ChildrenandYoungPeople #Communities #Housing #EqualityandHumanRights #HealthandCareServices #SocialCare #Transport #LocalGovernment

Topics

Children and Young People
Communities
Health and Care Services
Equality and Human Rights
Housing
Social Care
Transport
Local Government

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