Category Financial support Show all
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Cheshire West Crowd
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Cheshire West Crowd empowers people to create projects that will make a positive difference to their community.
Hundreds of different community projects have used the Cheshire West Crowd to run crowdfunding campaigns, collectively raising millions from thousands of supporters.
The Council has also pledged its support to many projects, helping them on their journeys to reaching their crowdfunding targets.
If you have an idea and a project in mind that you believe will make a difference to the people around you, consider sharing it with a local organisation. Any community project can kickstart their crowdfunding campaign on the Cheshire West Crowd.
Cheshire West Crowd – Home (spacehive.com)
The Cheshire West Crowd website has a range of information, including projects that are up and running and those that have already successfully used the platform, as well as details of how people can support them. You can filter the projects to Funded to see which ones are live.
Discover projects on the Cheshire West Crowd (spacehive.com)
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Gearing up for winter – Are you eligible for help this year?
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The great British summer has been and gone, and we are now heading towards Autumn and Winter where we all need to consider how best to get through the colder months in the cheapest possible way.
Many of you who receive benefits will already have received a cost of living payment of £301.00 after April to assist you in paying your gas and electricity bills. However, don’t forget, there will be two more payments coming.
To add up to a total of £900.00 for the year the government will issue the next payments as follows:
Autumn 2023 £300.00 (payable between 31 October and 19 November 2023)
Spring 2024 £299.00
To qualify for these payments, you have to be receiving one of the following benefits:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
For these benefits you will have had to have an active benefit claim between 26 January to 25 February 2023 for the first payment. The government has not yet released the dates for the spring payment but if you met the criteria for the first two payments then it is likely you will receive the spring payment unless your circumstances and finances change.
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit, you are eligible for the Cost of Living Payment of £300 if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period 18 August 2023 to 17 September 2023.
For those of you in receipt of disability benefits you should also be eligible for an extra £150.00 which was due to be paid this summer.
Also, if you are entitled already to a Winter Fuel Payment then you should also get either an extra £150.00 or an extra £300.00. The £300 is called the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment and will be automatically paid to people in receipt of State Benefit / Pension Credit.
You should receive a letter letting you know how much you will be getting for your Winter Fuel Payment around October to November this year.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme will also start again this winter for those who qualify. Those who should automatically qualify are people in receipt of:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- The ‘Savings Credit’ part of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Other people on a low income and those receiving Guarantee Pension Credit may also be eligible.
The Warm Home Discount will not be paid directly to you but will be paid to your utility supplier to help reduce your bills.
If you are on a prepayment meter then your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
You should be sent a letter sometime between October 2023 and early January 2024 if you are eligible. If you do not receive a letter but think you should qualify you can call their helpline on 0800 107 8002
You can find more information on all of the above as it is updated at the following website.
GOV.UK/cost of living payments 2023 to 2024Also, if you are struggling to pay your bills, National Energy Action has lots of useful advice and guidance on their website. If you are not on the internet, you can call them on 0800 304 7159
National Energy Action Advice and Support -
Household Support Fund
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Many people are struggling with the rising cost of living. If you’re one of those people, then the government’s Household Support Fund may be able to help you.
The 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 fund 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.
It’s worth noting that you don’t need to be getting benefits to receive help from the Household Support Fund and if you are receiving benefits the additional funding to help with the cost of living will not affect your benefits.To find out more about the Household Support Fund and to check if you’re eligible to apply, visit: Household Support Fund | Cheshire West and Chester Council
You can apply to the Household Support Fund anytime between now and 31 March 2024.
There is also more information about food provision, money advice, and mental health and wellbeing support on the Council’s cost of living web page.
Cost of living | Cheshire West and Chester Council -
If it looks too good to be true – beware!
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During these difficult times with prices soaring and the general cost of living rising, many people are getting into debt and are looking for any option to help them out.
If you use social media, you have probably started to see posts appearing offering a way out of debt. ‘Get rid of up to 90% of your debt’ and ‘A new government scheme can write off the majority of your debt’ are now becoming commonplace but how trustworthy are they and what is this ‘new government scheme’?
The majority of these get out of debt schemes being advertised usually relate to a debt option called an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or IVA for short.
So, what is an IVA? Is it a new government scheme and is it right for you?
An IVA is one of several insolvency options that have been around for years, others you may be more familiar with include Bankruptcy and Debt Relief Orders.
An IVA ‘can’ be a good option, but this is mainly for people who wish to enter an insolvency option but also want to protect their property if they have expensive vehicles, a mortgaged property or they are a homeowner. An IVA also involves paying a monthly amount of at least £80 for a period of 5-6 years.
More recently these adverts are being targeted at people who do not have any assets, do not own a house or mortgaged property, and have limited income through benefits or low paid jobs.
Any provider of free debt advice would explain all the different debt options to you and which options are unsuitable or to avoid. The companies behind the adverts do not do this, and often their main purpose is to sell an IVA to you regardless of whether it is the right option for you, as they make a profit.
What happens when someone signs up for an IVA?
There is a fee for being in an IVA which can be up to a few thousand pounds. A reputable provider would spread this fee across the 60 or 72 months of the IVA and include it in your payments, however, a lot of the companies who advertise do something called ‘front loading’ of their fees. This means that any payments you make go to pay off their fees before any of your payments go to the creditors you owe money to. It’s important to note that in this instance if you fail on your IVA then you could find that you’ve only covered the provider’s fees and still owe all the money you were in debt for at the start of the IVA.
If you are worried about being in debt, there is plenty of free advice available to you. Here you will be advised of all the options available to you, to help you choose the right one.
Free debt advice is available from:
Citizens Advice Cheshire West - Tel: 0808 278 7806
Pennysmart - Tel: 01244 651210 -
Final reminder for tax credits customers to renew their claim
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If you have received a renewal pack and still need to confirm your circumstances for the current tax year, it’s important that you do this by the annual deadline which is Monday 31 July, or you may be at risk of having your payments stopped.
Circumstances that could affect tax credits include changes to living arrangements, childcare, working hours or a change in income.
Two types of renewal packs were issued, as detailed below:
• ‘reply now’ packs had a red line across the first page and the words ‘reply now’. Customers must confirm their circumstances to renew their tax credits• ‘check now’ packs had a black line across the first page and the words ‘check now.’ Customers whose details are correct do not need to do anything and their tax credits will be automatically renewed.
The quickest and easiest way for you to renew your tax credits is via the GOV.UK website or via the HMRC app which you can download to your mobile device from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Manage your tax credits via GOV.UKYou can also renew tax credits by phone or post.
Telephone: 0345 300 3900
Post: Send tax credit renewal forms to the address below. You do not need to include a street name or PO box.Tax Credit Office
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1LR
United Kingdom -
Household Support Fund
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Many residents are facing financial challenges due to the continued rise in the cost of living. If you’re finding it difficult to make ends meet, then it’s worth checking whether you’re eligible to support from the Government’s Household Support Fund.
It’s also important to note that any payment you receive from the Fund does not impact on any benefits you may be claiming.The Household Support Fund is available to help a wide range of low-income households including families with children, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people, with food, energy, water and other essential household costs.
The current round of funding is for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. You can apply once in any six-month period.
More information on whether you’re eligible, and how to apply, can be found on the Council’s website, using the link below.
Household Support Fund
If you have friends or family who may be eligible but don’t have home internet access, then please ask them to telephone the Council directly.Tel: 0808 175 3599
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Council Tax discounts if you live with an adult who has a severe mental impairment
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If you live with an adult with a severe mental impairment, you could be missing out on a Council Tax discount. The discount is 25 per cent minimum off your Council Tax bill.
To qualify for the discount, the adult with a severe mental impairment needs to be receiving at least one of the following benefits and have a certificate from a GP. Although being severely mentally impaired is a medical diagnosis in itself, the underlying cause could be a condition such as dementia, profound learning difficulties, the result of a severe stroke, or something else.
- Incapacity benefit
- Attendance allowance
- Severe disablement allowance
- Disability living allowance (higher or middle-rate care component)
- Increase in disablement pension (due to constant attendance being needed)
- Unemployability supplement or allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Income support (which includes a disability premium)
- Personal independence payment (standard or enhanced daily living component)
- Armed forces independence payment
- Disability working allowance (based on getting income support including disability premium)
- Universal credit (including an element for limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity).
Adults who have been diagnosed as severely mentally impaired may be entitled to a Council Tax discount or if they live alone exempt from paying Council Tax altogether. This means that their households could be entitled to claim one of the following Council Tax discounts.
- If you are an adult with a severe mental impairment who lives alone or with one or more other adults who also have a severe mental impairment, you are exempt from paying Council Tax altogether.
- A 50 per cent Council Tax discount may apply if you are an adult with a severe mental impairment living with an adult carer.
- A 25 per cent Council Tax discount will apply if you are an adult with a severe mental impairment and you live with one other adult who is not severally mentally impaired.
When an adult with severe mental impairment lives with two or more other adults who are not severally mentally impaired then no Council Tax discount applies.
How to apply
- You can read more about Council Tax discounts for adults with a severe mental impairment and apply online using the link below.
- To complete the application, you will need a certificate from a GP showing that the individual has a severe mental impairment.
- You might also be asked to provide evidence that you receive relevant benefits to qualify for the Council Tax discount.
Severely mentally impaired | Cheshire West and Chester Council
If you would like more information, you can contact Citizens Advice Cheshire West. You can also ask them about other benefits you might be eligible for.
Tel: 0808 2787 806
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Take a free 'Midlife Money MOT'
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The Government has launched a new online Midlife MOT tool to get people thinking about their work, health and money and plan for a more secure retirement.
The Midlife MOT includes a five-minute money survey for people aged 45 to 65 who want help in identifying actions to improve their finances. It can give you tips about what to prioritise and where to turn for help before retirement.
You don't need any documents or extra information to use the free tool and any information you input will be kept completely anonymous. You can download your results to help you improve your finances.
Additional resources around getting your finances back on track, including a budget planner and debt advice is available on the Money Helper website.
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Final reminder to redeem your Energy Bills Support vouchers
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There’s just one week left to redeem your Energy Bills Support vouchers before the Government scheme closes on 30 June.
If you are a customer on a traditional prepayment meter, your vouchers will have been sent from your electricity supplier by text, email or through the post. If you have lost your vouchers or they have expired, you will need to act quickly and contact your electricity supplier who can reissue these.
You can redeem your vouchers at the local Post Office or PayPoint indicated on your vouchers, but remember you will need to take along your ID.
If you’ve already claimed the energy support that you’re eligible for but you are still struggling with the rising cost of food, energy and other essential household costs then additional help may be available to you through the Household Support Fund.
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Help with paying your TV Licence
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TV Licensing: What is the Simple Payment Plan?Did you know that you might be able to get help with paying your TV Licence through the Simple Payment Plan?
With a referral, you can choose from either a fortnightly or monthly payment plan that spreads the cost of a TV Licence over 12 months. This means you make smaller payments more frequently, helping you to manage your money. Payments work out at around £3 per week, so it is the most affordable way to pay for a TV Licence.
Any not-for-profit organisation or local authority debt advice team providing free, confidential, and independent money advice can refer you to join the TV Licensing Simple Payment Plan.
If you would like to speak to someone about your finances, and ask about a referral, you can call the Citizens Advice debt helpline on 0800 240 4420.
Apply for a free TV Licence if you're aged 75 or over and receive Pension CreditOther TV Licence concessions
There are other TV licence concessions which you might be eligible for.
If you are aged 75 or over, and receive Pension Credit, you can apply for a free TV Licence.
Apply for a 50 per cent concession if you're blind or severely sight impairedIf you are blind or severely sight impaired, you can apply for a 50 per cent concession for a TV Licence online.