People on low incomes may be able to get housing benefit and council tax support from the council. This will depend on your current circumstances and you can find out more at:
Support for households affected by the heating oil crisis
We understand the difficulties many households are facing due to the current heating oil crisis.
We understand this is putting real pressure on residents across the county, especially those on lower incomes.
We are working to create a support scheme to help the households most affected, with a particular focus on low income heating oil users.
Please see our Crisis and Resilience Fund Energy Support Scheme page to find out who is eligible for help and how to apply.
'Crisis and Resilience Fund Energy' support scheme
Benefit advance
If you have made a new claim for benefit and are in financial hardship while you wait for your first payment, you may be able to get an advance to afford things like rent or food.
It’s important to get advice before taking out an advance. Benefit advances must be paid back, and the money will be taken from your future benefit payments (a loan).
Read more about Benefit Advances
Crisis and Resilience Fund
Crisis and Resilience Fund payments are for those in sudden emergency or disaster situations to help with immediate needs. They are provided to help vulnerable people live independently in their community.
Hardship payment
If you have been sanctioned, you may be able to request a hardship payment from the Jobcentre.
Hardship payments are not always paid immediately, and they’re not available to everyone.
Hardship payments of Universal Credit need to be paid back (a loan), but hardship payments of Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance do not (not a loan).
Find information about this on the Citizens Advice website
Challenge a Decision
You can challenge a benefit decision if your benefit has been;
- stopped
- sanctioned
- reduced
- refused
- or you have been overpaid
most benefit decisions need to be challenged within one month.
Housing
Housing payments
Housing payments are for people who are receiving Universal Credit (housing cost element) or housing benefit payments that are less than their rent payments and need help to cover the shortfall.
There is a limited amount of money available for housing payments.