Category Financial advice and support Show all
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Challenge Poverty Week: Let’s End Poverty Together
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Challenge Poverty Week runs from 13–19 October. It’s a chance for us all to shine a light on the real challenges people face and to celebrate the incredible work already happening across our communities.
We’re encouraging everyone to Do One Thing to take a simple step towards improving your financial wellbeing. Whether it’s having a chat with family, seeking advice, or reviewing your budget. Small actions can lead to big changes.
Below are a few suggestions to get you started, remember you only need to do one.- Check your benefits – You may not be receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to. Use the benefits calculator to check what you are entitled to. https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/other-benefits-and-grants
- Support for families – Check if you’re eligible for free school meals, Healthy Start and other support for families by visiting the cost of living page.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living
- Manage your energy costs – If you’re worried about energy bills there is help available, contact your supplier or visit our home energy page. https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/energy/home-energy
- Skills and employment – Thinking about work or training? The skills and employment team can help with mentoring, adult learning and overcoming barriers to work. Check the courses and information on their hubs below and call in and have a chat.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/education-and-learning/further-and-higher-education/skills-and-employment
If you’re part of an organisation that supports people in your community, tell us how you're making a difference. Share your work, your impact, and how you're listening to those with lived experience. Use the hashtags #ChallengePoverty and tag @go_CheshireWest so we can amplify your voice.
- Check your benefits – You may not be receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to. Use the benefits calculator to check what you are entitled to. https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/other-benefits-and-grants
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Household Support Fund update
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The government’s Household Support Fund is there to support households most in need, especially with energy costs, food, water bills and other related essential items with two schemes currently open.
Pensioner scheme – deadline for registering 17 October 2025
We wrote to all eligible customers during June and July to invite a claim to receive a payment of £50. Not all eligible pensioners have registered their bank details with us to enable this payment to be issued so we have written again as a reminder of this scheme and invite a claim by the deadline of 17 October 2025.
If you were invited to claim but have not yet done so, we would encourage you to register your bank details with us to receive the support and you will also automatically be considered for future similar schemes.
More information can be found at:https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/pensioner-low-income-households
Discretionary schemeOur new discretionary scheme which gives £150 to low-income households is now open for applications for those in need of support.
This discretionary scheme is only open to households which have an active claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. As this is a new scheme, residents who already received support between May to September 2025, are now eligible to claim again.
More information including how to apply can be found at :
Winter pensioner scheme – due to open 10 November 2025In November, we will be opening our winter pensioner scheme. If you are eligible and have provided your bank details during the winter pensioner scheme last year, or during the summer pensioner scheme mentioned above, you’ll automatically be considered for this winter scheme too, with no need to apply again.
For all other eligible low-income pensioners who are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, we will contact you direct to advise how to claim this additional support.
More information can be found at:
Additional support and advice is available for anyone who is struggling to pay their bills, requires debt advice or who’s health has been affected by the rising cost of living.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cost-of-living -
Major expansion in funded childcare for working families
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Eligible working parents in Cheshire West and Chester could receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare each week during term time for children aged 9 months to school age. This change is part of the government's expanded Childcare Choices programme and is designed to help families with the cost of living, support working parents, and give children the best start in life.
This is a fantastic opportunity for local families to access funded childcare from as early as nine months old. The cost of living can be challenging, and this support can make a real difference to parents balancing work and family life. From the end of parental leave to the start of primary school, an average working parent could save up to £7,500 per year – money that stays in your pocket for your family's needs.
Share this information with friends, family members, neighbours, and community groups. Many families still don’t realise they’re eligible, especially those with younger children or returning to work.
For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for funded childcare, visit:
The Best Start in Life parent hub -
Discount travel across the borough, and beyond
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Getting around using public transport can not only save you money but is good for the environment too. Check out the deals on offer across our borough and beyond.
Avanti West Coast’s Superfare ticket extended to ChesterThe Superfare ticket offers low-cost journeys to and from London.
The new fare costing £21 for a single journey, is available on direct Avanti West Coast trains between the two cities. It can be purchased at least 7 days in advance and up to 56 days before travel.The ticket enables customers to book a journey for a specific date at a cheaper fare with the choice of a morning, afternoon, or evening slot.
itravel now departing on Saturdays
itravel on-demand rural bus service covers a wide area including Helsby, Frodsham, Delamere and Acton Bridge, as well as some other villages where no commercial services are available.
It is simple, easy and cost effective to use. Just register to use the service, book your journey and you’re off. The many simple, convenient and varied ways of booking make it easier to connect you to people and places.
Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm (excluding Bank Holidays), and Saturdays between 9am and 5pm. You can book online, using the mobile phone app (available to download from the App Store or Google Play, or by telephone – 0330 678 1545.
Chester Park and Ride
Travelling into Chester for work or leisure? Park and Ride operates from Upton, Boughton Heath and Wrexham Road. Free parking, with discounts for groups now available. Buses operate three separate circular routes direct into the city, then back to your car park.
PR1 – Wrexham Road Park and Ride: Grosvenor Road (for Racecourse and Law Courts) – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop AA (for shops and visitor attractions) – Pepper Street (for the River Dee and Boat Trips) – Grosvenor Road - Wrexham Road Park & Ride
PR2 – Boughton Heath Park and Ride: Boughton Waitrose (for Business Quarter) - The Bars – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop AA (for shops and visitor attractions) – Boughton Waitrose - Boughton Heath Park & Ride
PR3 – Upton (Zoo) Park and Ride: Liverpool Road (Countess Hospital) – Liverpool Road Abbotts Grange (for university) – Bus Interchange – Foregate Street stop BB (for shops and visitor attractions) – Liverpool Road Abbotts Grange – Liverpool Road (Countess Hospital) - Upton (Zoo) Park & Ride
Get around for £3 until 2027
Single bus fares to be capped at £3 until March 2027, ensuring services remain affordable and supporting travel in rural areas and towns.
Cheshire West and Chester Council has worked with operators to encourage as many as possible to participate, although some services will not be eligible.
Journeys starting in Wales are not eligible for the scheme, however local concessions have been introduced by some operators.
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Free adult and family cycle training available
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The Council is working with cycle trainers Bikeright to offer residents access to adult and family cycle training across the borough. The training will be tailored to suit your needs, whether you are a complete beginner or want to learn some more advance skills on your bike. Courses are available on a one-to-one basis with an instructor at a time and location that suits you. For family training, up to a maximum of six people can receive the training within your group.
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Financial support for families with young children and teens
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Tax-Free Childcare to help parents to save on their childcare bills
With Tax-Free Childcare, families arranging childcare for the start and end of the school day can get financial support of up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled, towards the cost. Parents can use the scheme to pay for childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability.
For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every three months to use to pay for their childcare costs.
Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use whenever it’s needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
For more information about Tax-Free Childcare and how to register visit GOV.UK.
Reminder to extend Child Benefit for your teenParents of 16 to 19 year olds, who are staying in education or training, can extend their Child Benefit claim to guarantee payments in September.
Child Benefit will automatically stop on 31 August on or after a child’s 16th birthday if it’s not extended.You can apply to extend Child Benefit quickly and easily via the HMRC app or online on the Gov.UK website. You need to do this by 31 August
https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19Child Benefit is currently worth £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year - for each additional child. More than 870,000 parents extended their Child Benefit claim for their teen last year with the majority confirming online or via the HMRC app in minutes.
Child Benefit can continue to be paid for young people who are studying full time in non-advanced education as well as unpaid approved training courses. Visit GOV.UK to check full eligibility.
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Important reminder to check your State Pension age particularly if you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961
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The Pensions Act 2014 set out the timescale for the increase in State Pension age from 66 years old to 67 years old and will first affect those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961.
Anyone born between these dates should check their State Pension age to find out the earliest point at which they’ll be eligible for their State Pension.
It’s important for everyone to check their State Pension age. You can do this by using the State Pension age calculator on GOV.UK State Pension age calculator
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Household Support Fund update
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The government’s Household Support Fund is there to support households most in need, especially with energy costs, food, water bills and other related essential items. The current round provides funding until 31 March 2026.
Cheshire West and Chester plan to spend the money in the following ways:
- food vouchers for families with children who get free school meals
- payments to Pensioners who receive Pension Credit
- payments to Pensioners on a low income who are not receiving Pension Credit and therefore no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment support
- making financial support available to people via local charitable organisations
- helping low-income households with energy and food costs
- income maximisation software to support residents to claim all of their eligible entitlements.
The round of discretionary funding for 2025/26 is now open for applications and is available to a broad range of low-income households across the borough, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people. The discretionary scheme is only open to households which have an active claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.
More information including how to apply can be found using the link below.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/household-support-fund
As of early July, we have now contacted all eligible Pension Credit customers directly to advise how to claim this payment.
The Council had previously intended to issue payments to pensioners on a low income who are not receiving Pension Credit to replace lost Winter Fuel Payment support. However, following amendments to the Winter Fuel Payment by central government, this support is no longer required.Therefore, in the autumn, we will be directly contacting all eligible low-income pensioners who are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, to advise how to claim additional support. More details will be provided in future newsletters. Please note that pensioners who have previously claimed Household Support Fund payment since December 2024, where possible the Council will reuse previous payment details provided so an application may not be required.
Additional support and advice is available for anyone who is struggling to pay their bills, requires debt advice or who’s health has been affected by the rising cost of living.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cost-of-living -
Latest news on the government’s Household Support Fund
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The government’s Household Support Fund is there to support households in the most need, especially with energy costs, food, water bills and other related essential items. The new round provides funding until 31 March 2026.
Cheshire West and Chester have chosen to spend the money in the following ways:- food vouchers for families with children who get free school meals
- payments to Pensioners who receive Pension Credit
- payments to Pensioners on a low income who are not receiving Pension Credit and therefore no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment support
- making financial support available to people via local charitable organisations
- helping low-income households with energy and food costs
- income maximisation software to support residents to claim all of their eligible entitlements.
The new round of discretionary funding for 2025/26 will open by 16 May 2025 for applications and is available to a broad range of low-income households across the borough, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people. The discretionary scheme is only open to households which have an active claim for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.
More information including how to apply can be found using the link below.
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-welfare-help/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/energy-and-food-cost-supportDuring June, we will be contacting eligible Pension Credit customers directly to advise how to claim the support.
In the Autumn, we will be directly contacting eligible low-income pensioners who are not receiving Pension Credit, to advise how to claim the support. More details will be provided in future newsletters.
Additional support and advice is available for anyone who is struggling to pay their bills, requires debt advice or who’s health has been affected by the rising cost of living.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cost-of-living -
Are you eligible for Pension Credit?
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If you’re over state pension age or you know someone aged 66 or over, you may be able to claim pension credit and also likely qualify for the warm home allowance.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £227.10 a week for single pensioners or £346.60 for couples.
It is a tax-free payment for those who:
- have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
- live in Great Britain.
Someone may still get Pension Credit if they:
- have not paid National Insurance contributions
- have some savings or a small pension
- live with their grown-up family
- own their own home.
You can use the Pension Credit calculator to find out how much Pension Credit you could get – without giving any personal details.
This video from the Department for Work and Pensions shows you how to use the Pension Credit eligibility calculator.
How to use the Pension Credit Eligibility Calculator - YouTube