Cost of living support in Sheffield:
Sheffield City Council are currently providing financial support through the Household Support Fund. You can apply for support every 3 months to help you with affording the essentials including food, gas and electricity, telephone and broadband as well as wider essentials. You can find out more about how to apply and what the application entails here: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/cost-of-living/apply-household-support-fund
General advice:
Consider benefit entitlement: lots of people miss out on benefits they are entitled too so its worth checking, being entitled to benefits may also help you get more financial support including cost of living payments and discounts on your energy bills. There are also options to get an advance on your first benefit payment.
Get help with your energy bills: You might be able to access support from your energy supplier for example a fuel voucher or grant payment. You can also often save money by switching to a different supplier or energy tariff that is more suited to your usage.
Get help with essential costs: Your local council may be able to support you through welfare assistance/household support fund. You don’t have to be eligible for benefits to access this support but if you are entitled then it won’t affect your benefits allowance. If you are struggling to pay for food you may be able to get a referral to a foodbank in your community from a Citizens Advice centre, GP, social worker or housing association.
Apply for a charitable grant: You might be able to get support from a charity through a grant payment, some of these are open to anyone whereas others are dependent on your situation for instance your age, job, disability/health condition.
Personal pension: You might be able to use your personal pension savings to help support you with current bills/debts. Consider this carefully as you will have less income when you retire. However, If you’re getting benefits, taking money from your pension it could affect your claim. Therefore you should get advice from Pension Advice or a financial advisor to help you consider your options.
Use the resources below to help you:
Benefit entitlement check- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/what-benefits-can-i-get/
Energy bill support- https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/
Charitable grants- https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
Find out more information about support you can receive including getting help with health costs, rent, council tax, vet care: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/cost-of-living/get-help-with-the-cost-of-living
