If you are struggling to afford the basics, like food, medicine and essential services, there is help available.

If it’s an emergency: 

If your support need is urgent (for example, you are going to run out of food, medicine or essential supplies within three days) and you live in West Sussex, you should call the West Sussex Community Hub on 033 022 27980 or request support via their online form.

Foodbank vouchers are avaialable in your community from places like schools, social services, the police and community centres. When you request a foodbank voucher from us, we will assess your circumstances fully so that we can be sure you are getting all the help you can access.  

Gas and electric:

If you are running out of gas or electric, you can-

• Contact us and ask about an emergency feul top-up voucher
• Contact your energy provider and ask for “Temporary Credit”.

Benefit Advances:

• Check whether you are eligible for a benefit advance. These can be paid to you as quickly as within 2 hours if it’s urgent.  Be aware that these are a loan and repayments will be deducted from your future benefit payments.

Universal Credit:

• New Claim Advance
• Change of Circumstances Advance
• Budgeting Advance

Other benefits:

• Short-term Benefit Advance
• Budgeting Loan

If you need help with food but it’s not an emergency

• If you’re over 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4, you may be eligible for a Healthy Start card for help buying healthy food, like fruit, vegetables and pulses, plus cow’s and baby milk. You can also use your card for vitamins for you and your child.  You can find out more information and how to apply here.

• You may be able to get free school meals for your school-age children if you are receiving certain means-tested benefits. Free school meals are available to most children aged over 16 and in further education. They are also available to families with “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF).  West Sussex residents can apply for free school meals here.

• Find out whether there is a community larder in your area. These can provide free or low-cost food to people in the local community.  Check your local social media groups or community news for information.

Make sure you are getting all of the help you are eligible for if you have children.  Don’t forget that you are usually still eligible for help for children aged 16-19 while they remain in further education or training.  Make sure you let HMRC, DWP and your local council know if you are claiming benefits and your child is staying on in education or training after they turn 16.

If you’ve just had your first child or children, make sure you complete a fresh benefit check as your entitlement is likely to have changed.  You are likely to be eligible for child benefit, and for extra elements of Universal Credit.  You might also become eligible for more help towards your rent or more help towards your council tax.  If you are already claiming Working Tax Credit, you should be able to add Child Tax Credit onto your claim.  If you have more children, or any other change of circumstance in the future, do come back and check your entitlement to benefits and the other help we’ve listed below, as it may well change again.

• If you’re over 10 weeks pregnant or have at least one child under 4, you may be eligible for a Healthy Start card for help buying healthy food, like fruit, vegetables and pulses, plus cow’s and baby milk. You can also use your card for vitamins for you and your child.  You can find out more information and how to apply here.

• If you are expecting your first child (or you have children already and are expecting a multiple birth) and you receive certain means-tested benefits, you may be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500. Make sure you apply before the child reaches their first birthday.

• You may be able to get free school meals for your school-age children if you are receiving certain means-tested benefits. Free school meals are available to most children aged over 16 and in further education.  They are also available to families with “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF).  West Sussex residents can apply for free school meals here.

• You get help towards up to 70% of your childcare costs if you are on Tax Credits, and up to 85% if you are on Universal Credit. Alternatively, you could qualify for a Tax-free Childcare account which pays up to 20% of your childcare costs.  You can’t get tax-free childcare at the same time as claiming Tax Credits or Universal Credit, or receiving childcare vouchers.

• If your child is under 16 and has a disability, they may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance. If they are 16 or over, they could apply for Personal Independence Payment.

• Free school transport may be provided if a child lives a long way from school, if they have an EHCP, or you have a low income. If you don’t qualify for free transport, you may also be able to access “spare seats” at a low cost; these are known as concessionary seats.

• Children who are aged 16-19 and in further education may be eligible for a 16-19 bursary for things like a travel pass, free meals or books. You can find out more information and how to apply here.

There’s help with travel or travel costs available if you are an older person, you are on a low income, you are disabled, a young person or a job seeker.

• You can claim back the cost of travel to hospital appointments for you or your child, if you are eligible for Help with Health Costs. People who receive certain means-tested benefits are eligible automatically, but if that doesn’t apply to you and you have a low income, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme for the same benefits.

• Free Disabled Person’s Bus Pass or railcard. West Sussex offers disabled residents the option of either a free bus pass providing free off-peak travel across the county, or a free railcard providing 1/3 off the cost of train tickets.

• Free Older Person’s Bus Pass – free bus travel for people over state pension age.

• Blue Badges enable disabled people with both visible and non-visible disabilities to access goods and services by allowing them to park close to their destination. Blue Badge holders may travel as either the driver or passenger. You can apply here.

• Young Person’s Railcards – there are two available, a new 16-17 Saver Card offering 50% off train travel for £30 per year, and the 16-25 Railcard offering a 1/3 off travel for £30 per year.

• The Flexible Support Fund is a fund offered by local Job Centres at the discretion of Jobcentre Plus advisers.  It can help with the cost of travelling to an interview, training or for the first months of travelling to work.  Ask your work coach if you’d like to apply.

• Job Seeker’s Travel Discount Card – 50% off rail fares for Job Seeker’s on certain means-tested benefits. Speak with your work coach to find out when and how to get one.

• Help with Health Costs – Free NHS dental, eye tests, prescriptions and travel to hospital. People who receive certain means-tested benefits are eligible automatically, but if that doesn’t apply to you and you have a low income, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme for the same benefits.

• Prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) – if you don’t qualify for Help with Health Costs, but you pay for at least 3 items in 3 months, or 11 items in 12 months, it will be cheaper for you to buy an NHS PPC. For a year-long certificate, you would pay about £10 per month over 10 months.  You can find out more information and how to apply here.

• Paying for care: Personal Health Budgets and Direct Payments.

There are ways that you can try to maximise your income:

• There are many different benefits available depending on your circumstances. Some are means-tested, which means that the amount of income and savings your household has affects whether or not you are eligible and how much benefit you’ll receive.  But for some other benefits it doesn’t matter what you have in income or savings, so don’t assume you aren’t eligible just because you think your income is too high, or you have some savings.  Use our benefit checker to check what you are eligible for.

• Check if there are other ways you can increase your income

• Use our budgeting tool to help you understand what you are earning and spending and where you can cut costs

• If you have debts that you are struggling to repay, please see our section on Debt for tips on how to start tackling them. If you need support managing your debts, please contact the Citizens Advice National Debt Service

More information about managing your budget and saving money on bills can be found on the Money Helper website.

If you are struggling to manage, it’s important you check that you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to.

There are many different benefits available depending on your circumstances.

Some are means-tested, which means that the amount of income and savings your household has affects whether or not you are eligible and how much benefit you’ll receive.  But for some other benefits it doesn’t matter what you have in income or savings, so don’t assume you aren’t eligible just because you think your income is too high, or you have some savings.

We have a handy and easy to use benefit checker  so you can check what you can claim.

If you need help with your benefit check, or you need further advice about your eligibility or how to apply once you’ve completed it, please contact us.

You might also want to take a look at our Maximising Income section for other ideas on how you might be able to increase your income and reduce your outgoings.

If you need money, food, medicine or other essential services urgently, please see our Food and Essentials section.

There is help available if you have debt and are struggling to manage, it’s best to act early and find out what your options are.

To start tackling your debt, you can:

• Work out your budget using our Budget Calculator

• Speak to a debt advisor about your options and how to speak with your creditors, like the bank and landlords

• If you need advice on mortgages, pension options or other debts, consider speaking with an independent financial advisor. Ensure you check fees and make sure they are independent

• Check if you are getting all of the income you can

• Apply for grants to help you

• Contact the Citizens Advice National Debt Service

• If you are waiting for your first Universal Credit payment, there may be a way for you to receive an advance payment

There’s help for household bills, including housing costs like rent

Rent, Service Charges and Mortgage

­If you pay rent:

• You may be able to get help towards some or all of your rent from Housing Benefit or Universal Credit – use our benefit calculator to find out what you might get. If you are thinking of claiming Universal Credit, you must get advice first to make sure it is the right benefit for you.  Contact our Help to Claim Service by phone or webchat for advice and help claiming.

• If you already receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit help with housing costs, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment if your rent isn’t covered in full.  Apply via your local council.

If you have a mortgage:

• If you need advice, you could speak with a mortgage advisor or independent financial advisor (IFA) to see what your options are, but always check their fees and make sure they are regulated. You can read out more about how to find a mortgage advisor or IFA here.

• You may be able to get help paying your mortgage interest if you have been eligible for certain means-tested benefits, usually for at least 9 months. This is a loan, and will have to be paid back with interest; meaning you’ll pay back more than you borrowed.  Get independent financial and legal advice before agreeing to a Support for Mortgage Interest loan.

If you pay service charges or ground rent:

• Some people pay service charges or ground rent, for example, if you are in a rental or leasehold property.  You might be able to get help paying your service charges or ground rent from Housing Benefit, Pension Credit or Universal Credit.  Check our calculator or contact us to speak to a benefits adviser.

Council Tax

• If you are on a low income you may be able to get Council Tax Support to pay towards the bill. This can be paid in addition to any discounts you are eligible for.  Apply for Council Tax Support here.

• Some households can get a discount on their Council Tax, for example, a 25% single person discount if you are the only adult living in your property, or the other adults are not counted for Council Tax purposes. There are other discounts such as a household member has a severe disability or mental impairment. You can check what discounts you are eligible for and apply here.

• If you have a second adult living in your property on a low income, you may be entitled to a Second Adult Rebate of up to 25% of the bill.  You can find out more about the Second Adult Rebate and how to apply here.

• If you are struggling to pay your council tax and on a low income, you may also be to apply for a Discretionary Council Tax Support payment from your local council.

Utilities

There’s lots of help available to help reduce water and energy bills, or help if you’ve fallen into debt with them.

• You may be eligible for emergency help such as fuel vouchers or grants to help with essential bills, buying essential goods or keeping warm this winter – please contact us for further advice about what’s currently available and help claiming.

• The Government Energy Bill Support Scheme has been created to help people this winter with £400 off their energy bills. You’ll either get the discount credited to your energy account, or, if you have a pre-payment meter, you’ll be sent a voucher.  If you are not sure how your discount is being provided, contact your energy provider.

• The Warm Home Discount will provide a one-off payment of £150 off this year’s winter fuel bills. It’s working a bit differently this winter, instead of having to apply, you’ll get the payment automatically if your electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme and either:
  • you or your partner receive Guarantee Pension Credit, or
  • you receive another “qualifying benefit” such as Universal Credit and you have high energy costs

• You’ll get a Cold Weather Payment,  if you are receiving certain means-tested benefits and the temperature falls below your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

• If you need help with installing home energy efficiency measures, there may be help available via your local council. Schemes vary from area to area, some may be eligible to anyone on a low income, but some require receipt of a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit.

• If you want to know more about how to reduce your energy use to lower your bills, see these helpful tips.

If you are vulnerable, let your water and energy companies know and ask to be added to their Priority Services Register.

Other bills

• If you claim certain means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, you may be eligible for a cheaper phone or broadband You can find out more details about the tariffs available and eligibility here.

• You can get a free TV license if you are over 75 and you receiving Guarantee Pension Credit. You can also get a discount on your TV license if you are blind or in residential care.  You can find out more information and how to apply here.