Advice

Many of us are concerned about the rising cost of everyday essentials such as energy, food, and other household expenses. You can find advice, tips and available support that may help if you are struggling.

Energy bills

Residents are understandably worried about the high energy prices and bills. If you are worried about the rising cost, we have put together some information to help you in finding financial support, debt advice and practical tips for saving energy in the home.

Please be aware that many of the payments are issued by central government and not ourselves. Further information can be found on the Help for Households website.

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before 23 September 1958, you could get up to £300 to help with your winter heating bills. You may be eligible if you or your partner receive certain benefits. You can visit the Winter Fuel Payment website to find out how to apply.

The extra 'Pensioner Cost of Living Payment' scheme from 2022 and 2023 has now ended. You will no longer receive payments for this.

Struggling to pay your bill

If you are finding it difficult to pay your energy bills or falling behind with payments, it is important you contact your energy supplier as soon as possible. There are rules from regulator Ofgem that mean your supplier must help you. This will normally be by agreeing to a payment plan that you can afford.

There are a range of options suppliers could offer if you are struggling, including:

• a full payment plan review
• affordable debt repayment plans
• payment breaks (only suitable for those with a temporary drop in income)
• payment reductions
• more time to pay

What help you can get is decided on an individual basis but repayment must be based on your ability to pay. Get in touch with your supplier as soon as possible.

Prepayment meters

If you are struggling to find the funds to top up your meter. Your energy provider is obliged to offer you help. Contact them as soon as possible if you cannot afford to top up.

Options to remember:

• emergency credit by your meter - all suppliers offer small amounts of emergency credit. You can usually get £5. This option is usually accessed by your meter and becomes available when you have little or no credit left.  Your supplier will be able to tell you how it works if you are not sure. You will need to pay this back when next you top up.
• friendly credit - this is there to protect you if you start running out of credit when the shops are closed. It means you won't be cut off at certain times like evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. You will need to pay for what you use in this time the next time you top up.

Prepayment customers who are having debt recovered can check the rate and frequency at which this is recovered, this is can be discussed if it is causing hardship.

Hardship funds

There are charitable trusts and funds that can help if you are in debt and struggling to repay energy costs or boiler repairs. There are eligibility requirements but those with the greatest need are prioritised on a case-by-case basis.

What to do if you think your meter is wrong

Meter faults are rare. But there could be a problem with your meter if you:

• are paying more than usual after taking account of price increases.
• get a bill you were not expecting.
• prepayment meter is showing an error message.

Your supplier is responsible for making sure your meter works properly. You should contact your supplier to investigate the problem with your meter, they can arrange for it to be tested.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You may be able to get help towards your electricity bill in winter with the Warm Home Discount Scheme. It’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill for some customers to help vulnerable people pay for their energy each winter.

More information about the scheme will be announced soon.

Practical tips for keeping your home warm

It’s often not possible to install double glazing or update an inefficient heating system as it is very costly. What can be done cheaply and quickly to keep your house warm:

• doors - thick curtains at windows and external doors are a great way to protect your house from losing heat. Keep internal doors closed to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
• open fireplaces - If you have an open fireplace that you don’t use, consider a chimney balloon. For around £20 a chimney balloon works by being placed inside the chimney hole, just out of sight. It's then inflated until it completely shuts out any incoming cold air or escaping heat.
• smaller drafts - do not forget areas such as letterboxes, keyholes, under doors and cat flaps. Draft excluders are available in many forms of covers, brushes and door cushions or try your hand at a DIY draft excluder an easy craft activity that children can get involved with.
• tin foil is an effective way to prevent unnecessary heat loss from radiators, particularly on those attached to external walls. Placing foil behind the radiator prevents heat disappearing through the wall by reflecting it back into the room, Foil specially designed for the purpose can be bought for under £10. You can use good quality kitchen foil, but this is slightly less effective.
• sunlight can warm your home during the day so open your blinds and curtains if the sun is shining. Closing your curtains as soon as dusk falls will maximise your house's potential to retain that heat.
• glazing for single glazed homes - there is a special film that you can put across windows that can imitate the same effect.
• make space around your radiators. Try and avoid placing large pieces of furniture in front of radiators. You could pull your sofa out just temporarily while you are using the room. This will help prevent the heat being absorbed by the sofa.
• cover bare floorboards. Floors account for as much as 10% of heat loss if they're not insulated. Rugs and blankets can help prevent this but if there are cracks or gaps in the flooring it's a good idea to fill with a silicone-based filler.

Practical tips for saving energy costs

There are a few things we can all do around the home to which can help save energy. These small changes can save you more money than you think.

• if you turn down your main thermostat just one degree it will cut your heating bills straight away and you may not feel any difference.
• fitting a low energy bulbs whenever you replace them can cut your electricity bill
• we have many electrical devices in our homes. When not in use, savings can be made by switching off at the wall and not leaving on standby.
• use a bowl for washing up. Filling a smaller bowl uses less water and energy than running the tap for longer for a larger sink.
• boiling water in a kettle can use a lot of electricity. If it’s just you for tea, boil enough for what you need. It costs less.
• reduce washing machine use. Try to reduce your wash loads by one less a week and make sure you maximise use by washing a full load. reduce tumble dryer use and dry outside if possible.
• ask all the family to reduce the shower time by just one minute. A shower uses less water and energy than running a bath.
• turning off lights that are not needed will contribute to saving energy and cost
• smart meters are good for monitoring use and can be linked to an app. Seeing the effect of turning off devices and heating down helps us to be efficient.
• If you have an Economy 7 meter, this type of heating can make good savings by using their cheap rate at night. Charging power packs and laptops overnight for use in the day.

Financial help from us

If you are the only adult living in your house, you may be entitled to a 25% discount on your yearly Council Tax bill. There are also a number of discounts you may be able to apply for. You may qualify for Council Tax support which is a benefit if you are on a low income.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) is a benefit that helps you pay your rent if you are struggling with your finances. It can also be for help towards housing costs, deposits or moving.

Exceptional Hardship Payments (EHP) are there to help residents who are getting Council Tax support and are facing exceptional hardship, where the support we’re already providing does not meet the full Council Tax amount.

The Kent County Council may be able to help you if you are having serious difficulties managing your income due to a crisis or if you are facing exceptional pressures because of an emergency.

There is further information and advice on our benefits pages including a benefit calculator where you can check you are receiving what you are entitled to as well as money saving advice

Other help

Debt advice

If you have debts it is important to seek help and not ignore the problem. There are organisations that can guide you with receiving help.

The Breathing Space Scheme is a government scheme that can relieve some of the pressures and stress of being in debt. If you are eligible your creditors are informed and must suspend collection, interest or enforcement for up to 60 days.

Money Helper offer free and impartial guidance for money issues you may be having as well as support for benefits and work.

Making your home energy efficient

Loft and cavity wall insulation and an efficient boiler can be a way of cutting bills and many of the energy providers offer help to people on low income or certain benefits. If you are eligible you could get free insulation or a grant to replace an old boiler.

Help with providing food

Free School Meals

If your child is under 19 and in full-time education and you receive certain benefits, you may be able to get free school meals.

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. Further information and how to apply can be found on the Healthy Start website.

Food banks

Voluntary and charitable organisations also run food banks in Maidstone including:

• The Maidstone Day Centre
• Salvation Army
• The Vine Church

They provide food parcels to help people in crisis. They all have their own criteria for how and who they can help, and they don't have food at all times. Before visiting the organisation, please contact them.

School uniforms

New School uniforms can be expensive. Many schools offer support to families who need financial assistance with uniforms, for example by giving you vouchers towards the cost.

It's also worth checking if your school has any nearly new uniform sales, this can be a good way to pick up lower-priced uniform at a fraction of the retail cost.

Mental health support

Life can get really tough sometimes, but talking can help. Release the Pressure have a highly trained and experienced team available 24/7 to provide expert support no matter what you are going through.

Don’t suffer in silence: text the word Kent to 85258 or call 0800 107 0160 for free confidential support.