With the steep rise in cost of living many people are worried about money at the moment. If you’re struggling to pay your bills or rent, or you’re in debt, you are not alone and there is support available.
Sheffield City Council runs a dedicated page for support which you can access here: Help and advice on money issues (sheffield.gov.uk)
The below sites are also very helpful.
- Citizens Advice
- Benefits Calculator – entitled to – independent/accurate/reliable
- Gas, Electric & Water Guides – MoneySavingExpert
- Help with fuel costs – Carers UK
- Using a food bank – Citizens Advice
How to understand your energy bill
Energy bills are set to rise from 1 April. A typical household could save up to £356 a year by following some useful tips. Before you can reduce your energy use and start saving, you need to know how much gas and electricity you use and how much you spend on using it .
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- Winter Fuel Payment – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Enacted by the last Labour government, this is a payment made to people who have reached pension credit age
- Warm Home Discount Scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Cold Weather Payment – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) If you are on certain benefits, you may be eligible for these if the weather in your area falls to 0° centigrade or below for seven days in a row
- Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills – Citizens Advice
- If you are a private rented tenant struggling to pay your rent due to a short-term crisis, you may be able to access the Winter Top Up grant. Call the Council on 0114 273 6306 for further details.
- Other support is available from Sheffield City Council, including support for food and essentials, and what to do if you are struggling to pay your Council Tax Coronavirus hub – support for people
Food banks
- You can get help with food from Foodworks, a local social enterprise
- Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) have a helpful map available on various community support in the city: local community hubs
- To find where food banks are in Sheffield, and to check they are open before visiting: https://www.sheffieldfoodbank.org.uk/food-bank-list/
The cost-of-living crisis has been made in Westminster
We believe no-one should be left cold or hungry and call on the government to do far more to relieve the cost-of-living crisis.
Labour is calling on the government to undertake the following action:
- Cutting people’s energy bills by £600 – funded by a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies
- Increase renewable energy generation, to reduce dependence on offshore gas and oil prices
- Reverse the £20 per week cut to Universal Credit
Want to speak to your local Labour councillor?
We will always do everything we can to support residents. Please email sheffield.labourgroup@outlook.com and we will ensure your message is passed on to the relevant councillor or candidate to speak with.