Cost of Living Help
Are you worried about the rising cost of energy bills, food, and transport? You are not alone, the cost of living is rising and is affecting many of us.
We know it's a difficult time for many so please be aware support is available for you.
The Oldham Council can help with issues like debt, finding a job, heating your home, feeding your family and more.
Please find more information here:
Cost of Living Information
- Help to Heat your Home
- Help with Benefits and Money
- Help with Your Household Bills
- Help for Families
- Energy Saving Tips!
Help to Heat your Home
Warm Homes Oldham
This service is provided by Oldham Council
Our main scheme for supporting households to reduce their energy bills and stay warm in winter is Warm Homes Oldham.
You can contact our team who will assess your situation and offer you:
- Advice on how to reduce energy use around the home and use heating controls effectively
- Help with switching energy supplier or tariff, claiming the Warm Homes Discount and registering on the Extra Care Register
- Small energy saving measures (like draught-proofing, LED light bulbs and reflective radiator foils)
- Oil filled radiators in an emergency no heat situation.
Warm Banks
Oldham Council have a number of Warm Banks available across their local libraries and community centres that you can visit to keep warm at no cost.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born before 26 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills.
- Winter Fuel Payment - GOV.UK website
Cold Weather Payment
You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.
- Cold Weather Payment - GOV.UK website
Help with Benefits and Money
To find lots of information about getting help with your benefits and money, please click on the link below:
https://www.oldham.gov.uk/wecanhelp
Help with Your Household Bills
Household Support Fund
Help for vulnerable people and families to get warm clothing and bedding, support if your struggling but aren't eligible for benefits, essential items for the elderly including food and fuel payments.
Free school meals
If you are on a low income or claiming benefits you may be entitled to free school meals.
Oldham Foodbank
Emergency food for local people in crisis.
Local Welfare Provision
You may be eligible for Local Welfare Provision to help you meet short-term emergency or immediate support needs or establish or maintain a home in the community.
Energy Price Guarantee
The Energy Price Guarantee protects customers from increases in energy costs by limiting the amount suppliers can charge.
Help for households
Government help, advice and support with the cost of living crisis.
- Help for households - GOV.UK website
Help paying your water bill
Help and support to pay your water bill:
- Difficulty paying your bill? - United Untilities website
Home Improve Loan
If you are a homeowner on a low income, you may be able to use some of the value in your home for essential repairs and improvements.
Disabled Facilities Grant
A grant for adaptations to let you live safely and independently in your home.
Fair Home Contents Insurance
Home contents insurance scheme for OHIP tenants.
Help for Families
Household Support Fund
Help for vulnerable people and families to get warm clothing and bedding, support if your struggling but aren't eligible for benefits, essential items for the elderly including food and fuel payments.
Help with food
Food support in and around Oldham for any resident who needs it.
Free school meals
If you are on a low income or claiming benefits you may be entitled to free school meals.
Food vouchers
Food vouchers are available for for families of children eligible for means-tested Free School Meals during the Christmas holiday 2022, February half-term holiday 2023, and Easter holiday 2023.
Holiday activities and food programme
The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is a programme of funded activities during the school holidays:
Oldham Foodbank
Emergency food for local people in crisis.
Local Welfare Provision
You may be eligible for Local Welfare Provision to help you meet short-term emergency or immediate support needs or establish or maintain a home in the community.
School Uniform
Many schools across Oldham are running schemes to help and support with equipping your child with a school uniform.
Warm Banks
We have a number of Warm Banks available across our local libraries and community centres that you can visit to keep warm at no cost.
Children and family benefits
If your in or out of work there may be benefits you can claim to help support your family and cover child care costs.
Energy Saving Tips!
- Get a smart meter to monitor your energy use and keep a track on appliances that are running your bills up.
- Turn your temperature down on your thermostat. It sounds obvious, but it’s estimated that turning it down by even one degree could save you up to 10% on your bill.
- If you have a condensing boiler (installed after 2005), you can adjust your flow temperature and save money. This is the dial with the radiator icon on the front of your boiler. Dial it down to 60°C or less if you have a newer property and your boiler will work more efficiently (condensing mode).
- Bleed your radiators. If the top is cold, it’s not heating fully. You need a radiator key but once bled, your boiler won’t have to work as hard to keep your room warm.
- Turn radiators off in rooms you’re not using and close the doors. This will help insulate your home.
- Keep your internal doors shut and curtains closed – especially in rooms you’re not using.
- If you’ve got laminate, wood or tiled floors, try and use a rug if you have one. Up to 10% of heat can be lost through your floors.
- Not leaving appliances on standby could save up to £147 a year. These are things such as your TV, microwave or phone chargers which are all costing you money if you leave them plugged in.
- Use LED bulbs. They use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer, than regular bulbs.
- If you’re making a brew, only boil enough for the cups you’re making. Your kettle won’t need to work as hard so it’s cheaper to run.