Stepping up to raise a child can be expensive, and money worries are common for kinship carers. Find out what financial support and benefits are available to you.
Help with energy bills
Many kinship carers worry about energy bills. Even more so in winter. Read about the support available to you as well as ways to help reduce your energy consumption.
This advice applies to: England and Wales
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Are you receiving the right benefits? You may be able to increase your income by checking if you are receiving the correct benefit entitlement. It may also make you eligible for other types of assistance.
To check your entitlement, use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator. You will need information about your savings, income, pension, childcare payments, and any benefits that you or your partner are currently receiving.
Financial support to help with energy bills
There are several initiatives providing financial help with energy bills, or ways to improve energy efficiency.
The Household Support Fund
If you’re struggling to buy basics, such as food, you may be able to get help with essential costs from your local council. This is sometimes called ‘the Household Support Fund’. If you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme, it will not affect any benefits you get.
It could help you to pay your water and energy bills, buy food and other essential items such as a fridge or freezer. During school holidays, you council may also offer food vouchers.
The fund is available until March 2025. To find out what support is available in your area, check with your local council.
Find out more about the Household Support Fund (GOV.UK).
Fuel vouchers
If you have a prepayment meter and you can’t afford to top it up, you may be able to get a fuel voucher. This will be sent to you as a code in a letter, text message, or email. You can use it to add credit to your electricity key or gas card.
Contact your local council to see if you can get a fuel voucher or contact an energy adviser at Citizens Advice.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born before 23 September 1958, and you or your partner get certain benefits, you could be eligible for a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. This is either £200 or £300 (depending on your age) to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2024 to 2025.
If you are eligible, you will normally receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically. In October or November, you should have received a letter to let you know how much you will get, and you will be paid in November or December. If you do not get a letter but you believe you are eligible, check if you can make a claim on GOV.UK.
Cold Weather Payment
You are entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if you get certain benefits and the temperature drops to zero degrees Celsius, or below, for 7 days in a row. Payments of £25 are made for each 7-day period. You do not need to apply; you will receive the payment automatically. If a baby or a child under 5 comes to live with you, you may need to tell Jobcentre Plus.
The 2024 to 2025 Cold Weather Payment scheme will run from 1 November 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is not a payment, but rather a one-off discount of £150 off your electricity bill. You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible and your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill.
If you live in England or Wales, you qualify for the Warm Home Discount if:
- you are on a low income and have high energy costs
- you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
How your energy supplier can help
You can get extra help from your gas and electricity supplier by signing up to the Priority Services Register. You’re eligible to sign up if you meet at least one of the following criteria. You’re:
- of State Pension age
- disabled or have a long-term health condition
- considered ‘vulnerable’ (this includes having children living with you who are under 5 years old)
Being on the Priority Services Register means that your supplier might agree to make your call a priority when you contact them, help reconnect your gas supply if you need it or give you extra support during a power cut.
Ways to reduce your energy consumption
You can save money on your energy bills by improving your home’s energy efficiency. Some of the things that you can do include:
- turning down the temperature on your heating to the lowest comfortable temperature but keep it above 15 degrees Celsius in colder weather to reduce condensation forming on outside walls
- only having your heating on when you need it
- turning the radiator down in rooms that are used less often
- ensuring your home is well insulated. Check the Great British Insulations Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation Scheme to see if you can get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your energy bills
- contacting your energy provider to see if it’s cheaper to use electricity at different times of the day. You can then run your washing machine, for example, when the tariff is lower (usually this is at night)
Tips on how to save money using your electrical appliances
Citizen’s Advice has estimated the cost of using appliances and offers tips on how to save money when using your appliances.
Related advice on this topic
Information and advice on the types of financial support available to kinship carers with a child arrangements order.
Information and advice on the types of financial support available to kinship carers with a special guardianship order.
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