Toggle menu

Cost of living support

Financial advice and emotional support on how you can ease the cost of living squeeze.

Utilities

If you are struggling to pay your bills, contact your supplier urgently. There are many charities and organisations that offer advice and support.

Home energy

If you are struggling to pay your bills, contact your supplier urgently. There are many charities and organisations that offer advice and support.

Essex Energy Switch

Essex County Council advice on schemes that can help you to cut your energy costs.

Household bill advice - Money Saving Expert

Guides and tools to help you get the best deals on your household bills.

The Oil-Club

The Oil-Club is the largest heating oil club in the UK.

Essential Living Fund

The Essential Living Fund (ELF) is primarily intended to help vulnerable people live as independent a life as possible in the community.

Citizen Advice

Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills.

Ofgem

Your energy supplier can help if you are having difficulties with your gas and electric bills. You can get other grants and benefits too.
See more (Go to Home energy)

Broadband

There are a vast choice of providers available. It is important to consider your usage requirement and any social tariffs that may be applicable.

Essex county council
Essex County Council

If you're a low-income family receiving Universal Credit or other benefits, you could be eligible for a social broadband tariff and save up to £202 a year on your broadband bills.

Help with your broadband bills

 

MoneySavingExpert
Money Saving Expert

On benefits? You may be due cheap, long-term 'social tariffs'

Broadband social tariffs

Water

Whilst you have no choice over your water provided, there may still be ways to save money.

Affinity Water

Reduced bills for customers on a low income. Affinity Water's Low-Income Fixed Tariff (LIFT).

Anglian Water

Anglian Water created LITE and Extra LITE tariffs as one of the ways they can support you if have little spare money once your bills are paid and you're struggling to pay your water bill.

Thames Water

With a range of support available, Thames Water can help choose the correct support for you.

Water advice - Money Saving Expert

Water bills - the forgotten utility, but you can still save.

Water meter calculator

Try this water meter calculator to see potential savings if you switched to a water meter.
See more (Go to Water)

Discounts and grants

If you, or the person you care for, need extra financial help there are many grants, funds & charities that may be able to help.

Essential Living Fund

The Essential Living Fund (ELF) is primarily intended to help vulnerable people live as independent a life as possible in the community.

Essential Living Fund - Southend-on-Sea City Council

Help for households

See what support is available to help with the cost of living and save money with our energy saving tips.

Help for households website

Warm Homes Discount

You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The money is not paid to you - it's a one-off discount applied to your electricity bill between October 2023 and 31 March 2024. This discount is automatically applied if you are eligible, you will receive a letter by early January 2024. If you do not get a letter and you think you are eligible you must contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme before the 29 February 2024.

The Warm Homes Discount Scheme

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

You could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing your heating system with a heat pump or biomass boiler.

To apply you must own the property you're applying for (this includes a business premises, second homes or a property you rent out to tenants), have installed or plan to install a new heating system after 1 April 2022 and will be replacing a fossil fuel system (such as gas, oil or electric).

Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) - help to make energy-saving home improvements

If you are on a low income and living in a home that is off the gas grid you may be able to get help with making energy-saving improvements to your home.

Home upgrade grant (HUG2)

 

 

Share this page

Facebook icon Twitter icon email icon

Print

print icon