Help for Households is offering support to help you prepare for a challenging winter. Make sure you’re ready by finding out what you’re entitled to.

Many local councils are also offering additional services and funding. You can find out more about what is available by visiting your local council’s website:

• Basildon
• Braintree
• Brentwood
• Castle Point
• Chelmsford
• Colchester
• Epping Forest
• Harlow
• Maldon
• Rochford
• Tendring
• Uttlesford

You can also get advice on money, debt and benefits on Essex County Councils website.

The ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ means a typical UK household will pay no more than £2,500 a year on their energy bill. The Energy Price Guarantee will be in place from 1 October 2022 until April 2024. You can save money on your energy bills by reducing the amount of energy you use. Visit Energy Saving Trust to find out how you can save money on your energy bills

Get specialist advice

You could get help from a specialist energy advisor if you are finding it hard to pay energy bills or have debts with energy suppliers. They might be able to help you get a grant to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

• Get advice from Warm Homes Essex
• Contact the Citizens Advice Warm Homes team on 0300 3033 789
• Visit the Ofgem website for support and guidance with your energy bills and supplier

Warm spaces in your local community

Essex Libraries are hosting the Warm Welcomes scheme to encourage people to use their local libraries this winter. As well as providing a safe place to keep warm libraries will be offering hot drinks, social spaces, and a range of activities such as cooking demonstrations and homework clubs.

• Visit the Essex Libraries website to find out more about what your local library is doing, or to sign up to be a Warm Welcomes volunteer

Get extra help from your energy supplier

All energy suppliers and network operators keep a Priority Services Register. This is a free service to make sure that extra help is available for people in vulnerable situations.

You can register if you are of pension age, have a disability or medical condition, are pregnant or have young children.

• Visit the Ofgem website to find out more about the Priority Services Register and who is eligible

You could get help with childcare costs, including:

• funded childcare for 2-year-olds
• funded childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds
• early years pupil premium

You may be eligible for more help, including national funding and free healthy food vouchers.

• Check your eligibility for more help with childcare costs

School meals

Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically get free school meals. This is called Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and you do not need to apply for it.

Children in year 3 and above may be eligible for free school meals.

Children and young people aged 2 to 19 may also be eligible for free meal vouchers during the school holidays.

• Check your eligibility for free school meals

School transport

Children in primary or secondary school could be eligible for free school transport.

• Check your eligibility for free school transport

Holiday clubs

The Essex ActivAte programme offers free clubs for eligible children and young people during the school holidays. Booking usually opens on their website a few weeks before the holidays.

• Find clubs near you

If you need emergency money or food, you may be eligible for a budgeting loan or grants and charitable funds.

• Find out what emergency support is available

Council Tax

The government has introduced a £150 Council Tax rebate. If you live in an eligible property and you pay your council tax by direct debit, your local council will generally make the payment directly to your bank account. Payments started in April 2022. If you live in an eligible property and you do not pay your council tax by direct debit, contact your local council.

• Find your local council

You could be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

• Apply for a Council Tax Reduction

Funding towards household costs

If you are facing hardship, you can get help with your essential household costs. You can also get advice and support from Citizens Advice and other voluntary and community organisations.

• Find out how to access support through the Household Support Fund

Food

Foodbanks give free food to people who are struggling financially. The Salvation Army also offers emergency assistance to people in need.

• Visit the Trussell Trust to find a foodbank near you
• Find out about emergency assistance from The Salvation Army

Broadband

If you’re a low-income family receiving Universal Credit or other benefits, you could be eligible for a discounted broadband service.

• Find out about discounted broadband

Public transport

Essex Highways have put together a list of money saving tips for travelling around Essex on public transport. This includes park and ride discounts, concessionary bus passes and saver bus tickets.

• Find out more about saving money on public transport