Cost of Living Crisis

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Citizens Advice

Dorset Adviceline: 0800 144 8848

Local offices offer face-to-face, phone and email advice – for details of office locations, opening hours and email enquiry forms, go to:

Benefit Checks

Help to Claim: National Citizens Advice helpline for Universal Credit claims: 0800 144 8444.

Benefits Check: Make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. There are
three reliable online ‘calculators’.

Grants

Household Support Fund for those on a low income and struggling with bills.

Government Support

Government support for the cost of living crisis:

Local Authority administered help: £150 energy bills rebate (‘Council Tax rebate’)

Money Advice

Money-saving tips and ways to reduce your bills.

Social tariffs - discounted bills / packages available to people in receipt of certain benefits
e.g. Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance:

Other money-saving tips

Other ways to increase income

  • Healthy Start Scheme: vouchers for pregnant women and families with a child under 4 years old on low income to buy basic food items.

Debt Advice

Local Citizens Advice can offer a Debt Assessment; referral for fuller debt advice may involve a wait due to the current demand for services. Other Free sources of debt help: