Asda

Children aged 16 and under can get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day in Asda cafés across the UK, 7 days a week, with no minimum adult spend. Asda are extending this offer until the end of March 2023. Click here for more information.

Iceland

Iceland are offering a number of cost saving initiative’s, including weekly discounts, product deals and frozen prices which are available in store, including £1 price freezes across 100s of items. Find out more here around different ways Iceland are helping you tackle the cost of living crisis: www.iceland.co.uk/doing-it-right

Morrisons

Morrisons are offering a free meal for 1 child under 16 when buying an adult meal with a value of £4.99 or over at in-store cafés.

Sainsbury’s

We are here for you

Our support team are here to help you Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Phone: 01582 470 900

Email: info@drcbeds.org.uk

Photo caption: A young blind man with white cane and guide dog on pedestrian zone in city.

We post links from website readers and our charity team. Alison, who’s a Senior Payroll Technician in our charity’s payroll team, found these links and hopes our website readers will find them useful.

Help in Luton

Luton Council has compiled some handy links to support residents with the cost of living including:

• Help with paying bills
• Concerns about rising energy costs
• Benefits and other financial help
• Employment guidance
• Housing advice
• Mental health issues and feeling isolated

Luton Council also provides a benefits calculator so you can make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.

Healthy Start

Healthy Start is a scheme that offers help to buy healthy food and milk for people who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4. 

There’s a card for eligible people to buy:

• Plain liquid cow’s milk
• Fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
• Fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
• Infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

You can also use your card to collect vitamins:

• Healthy Start vitamins 
• Vitamin drops for babies and young children

The Healthy Start website also offers advice on healthy eating.

Household bills

The Money Helper service provides free, confidential and impartial help tailored to individual needs.

Info from the Help for Households – Housing Support page:

Cost of Living Payment

Households on means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive a payment of £650 this year.

This will be made automatically in two instalments, one in summer and another in the autumn, and is in addition to the £400 discount on energy bills.

Find out more information on the costs of living payment

Disability Cost of Living Payment

From 20th September, 6 million people who are paid certain disability benefits will receive an automatic one-off £150 payment. The payment will help disabled people with the rising Cost of Living acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as care and mobility needs.

This is in addition to the £650 Cost of Living Payment for disabled people who also receive means tested benefits. Check if you’re eligible for the Disability Cost of Living Payment

Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

In the winter months pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills. This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment.  Check if you’re eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment

Council Tax rebate

If you live in Council Tax bands A to D in England you’ll get £150 back from your Council Tax bill (4 out of 5 households in England). For most people the rebate is automatic, however if you don’t pay your Council Tax by direct debit then get in touch with your Council. More information on the Council Tax rebate

Household Support Fund

£1.5 billion has been made available to support the most vulnerable to cover their essential daily costs, like energy bills. Recipients include pensioners and families with children. Contact your local Council to check if you’re eligible for the Household Support Fund

Budgeting loans

You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months. This can be used for household items, rent in advance and travelling costs. Check if you’re eligible for a Budgeting Loan

Help paying your Water Bill

Many water companies run hardship schemes or fund independent charitable trusts which can help you pay your bills. Get support paying your Water Bill

TV Licence fee freeze

The TV licence fee has been frozen at £159 until 2024. This means households will not see any change to the licence fee until 1 April 2024. Find out more information on free TV Licence for over 75‘s

Get help with all or part of your rent

You may get help with all or part of your rent. There’s no set amount of housing costs support and what you get will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council or housing association. Use a benefits calculator to find out if you can get benefits to help pay your rent

Universal Credit if you’re unemployed or on low income

If you and/or your partner are responsible for paying rent for the home you live in, or if you have a mortgage, Universal Credit may provide help towards the cost.

Check if you are eligible for Universal Credit

Housing benefit

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you are state pension age or you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary accommodation. Check if you are eligible for Housing Benefit 

Support for additional housing costs

You may be able to get support for additional housing costs if you’re already claiming Housing Benefit.
Contact your local Council to find out what support you can get

Council Tax support schemes

Councils run support schemes to help people on low incomes with their Council Tax bill. Contact your local Council to find out what support is available

Discretionary Housing Payments

If you are on certain benefits you may be eligible for Discretionary Housing Payments which provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs. Check if you’re eligible for a discretionary housing payment

Get help with interest payments on mortgages or loans

If you’re a homeowner on qualifying benefits, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on your mortgage or loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home.
Check if you’re eligible for Support for Mortgage Interest