Cost of Living Help
Looking for Extra Help?
Make sure you visit our Support Directory, where you can find information about a wide range of help available in the Community.
This includes local warm spaces, financial assistance, help with energy costs and support for vulnerable people.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund can help if you are facing hardship or emergency, including struggling to pay bills or afford food.
Find out more at Household Support Fund.
Support Directory
Our Support Directory has contact details for partners and charities that can help with a wide range of issues, including foodbanks, mobility assistance, caring, mental health and more.
Free Cookers, Cookbooks and Electric Blankets
The Council has secured funding to provide free slow cookers, electric blankets and throws, clothes airers and cookbooks to residents in need. We are working in partnership with South Dartmoor Community Energy (SDCE) and Tamar Energy Community (TEC), who will target foodbanks and warm hubs to distribute these.
Electric throws are very economical - costing from as little as 5p per hour to run, especially when you compare them with the cost of keeping your central heating on for hours or heating rooms you're not actually using.
Slow cookers cost an average of 8p per hour, instead of 68p per hour for a traditional oven or cooker.
Clothes airers drying clothes on an airer indoors (with a window open to avoid damp) or outside, to shorten or even avoid the tumble dryer completely, can heavily cut costs. Tumble driers cost up to £1 per cycle.
For more information, please contact
- South Dartmoor Community Energy (in the South Hams)
- Tamar Energy Community (in West Devon)
Borrow items for a low cost from the Share Shed
The Share Shed is a mobile library of things that offers over 350 useful items including tools, household appliances, gardening equipment, camping gear and more for people to borrow at a low cost.
You can see their selection of items and locations and opening hours on their website.
Annual memberships require a donation between £5 and £50.
Help with paying your Council Tax
There are several ways you can pay your Council Tax which are listed on the back of your Council Tax bill. You can pay by 10 or 12 monthly instalments for the annual bill. The bills are sent out with 10 instalments - if you'd like to pay over 12 instead, please set up your direct debit.
If you're on a low income, you may be eligible for Council Tax Reduction. Find out and apply on the Make a New Claim page.
If you're not eligible for Council Tax Reduction, you may be able to apply for Universal Credit or other benefits. See below for how to check your benefit entitlement.
Other people may qualify for a discount or exemption on their Council Tax, including:
- Students
- Carers and care workers
- Single adults
- Disabled residents
- People with enduring mental health problems
To find out more, please see Reductions - Discounts and Exemptions.
Check your benefit entitlement
Many working people are entitled to additional help and support, including working tax credits and child tax credits.
You can check your benefit entitlement online using the calculator below:
Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding Payment
The Government has announced extra support for households with increased energy bills, who have not received the Energy Rebate from their energy supplier for the property that they live in as their main residence.
The scheme is designed to help people who do not receive their energy bill in the usual way, but have still suffered an increase in the amount they pay. This may include (but is not limited to):
- care home residents,
- park home residents,
- tenants who pay for electricity through a landlord on a commercial supply,
- off-grid homes,
- domestic farms paying on a commercial supply etc.
The support for those that apply and are eligible will be a one-off, non-repayable payment equivalent to £400 off the energy bill.
The Government are now accepting applications for the scheme. Full details of eligibility and to apply, please go to Gov.UK Energy Bill Support
If you have any questions about the scheme or need help to apply, please contact the Government Helpline on: 0808 175 3287 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Please be aware, because the property you are applying for must be your main residence, in most cases it should be banded for Council Tax. If your property is not currently banded, and should be, the Council will contact you for further details.
Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Fuel Bill Support
The scheme is designed to help people who do not use electricity or gas for their heating, but instead an alternative fuel such as liquid petroleum gas, oil or solid fuel, and did not receive a payment from their electricity supplier. This may include (but is not limited to):
- park home residents
- on a boat on a permanent residential mooring
- on a permanent Gypsy and Travellers' site
- part of a heat network without an electricity meter
- off the mains electricity or gas grid homes
The support for those that are eligible will be a one-off, non-repayable payment equivalent to £200 off the energy bill.
The Government are now accepting applications for the scheme. Full details of eligibility and to apply, please go to Gov.UK Energy Bill Support
If you have any questions about the scheme or need help to apply, please contact the Government Helpline on: 0808 175 3943 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Help with money, employment and training
You can find help and advice with money and debt from any of the services below:
Help with broadband and phone packages
Social tariffs can provide a safety net for customers who might be struggling to afford their broadband or phone services.
Ofgem have produced a list of broadband and mobile services which you may be eligible for.
Cheaper broadband and phone packages
Winter energy bills discount
The government is providing extra support with energy bills over the winter months through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. All households with a domestic electricity connection in Great Britain are eligible for the £400 discount.
There is no need to apply, energy suppliers will pay the grant over six months. Payments start from October 2022, to ensure households receive financial support.
Cost of living payments (for people on means-tested benefits)
Residents on means-tested benefits are set to receive Cost of Living Payments directly from the government, totalling £650.
Since 14 July 2022, the government has been automatically paying the first installment of £326 to eligible households to help with cost of living pressures. The remaining amount will follow in a second instalment in the autumn.
Find out more at Cost of living payments.
Cost of Living Support
Find out more about government's cost of living support package, providing help for households with rising prices, targeted at those most in need.
Saving Energy
Visit the government website for home improvement ideas that could make your property cheaper to heat and keep it warm.
Council Tax Rebate
The Government's £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate Scheme and Discretionary fund have now closed, and no further payments can be made.
If you are struggling with the rising cost of living, please see our Household Support Fund and Support Directory to find details of organisations which can help.
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