Financial support for residents

You should always check GOV.UK’s benefits information to see if you are entitled to receive any central government support, for example Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance.

We hold weekly advice sessions for housing, welfare benefit and money advice at our One Stop Shops.

If you would like to talk to someone one-to-one to check what support you may be eligible for, visit one of our One Stop Shops or email OSSAppointments@southglos.gov.uk to book an appointment. Our customer care officers will speak to you in confidence.

Household support fund

The household support fund is to help people who are struggling to buy food, pay energy and water bills or cover other essential living costs.

We aim to support as many residents as we can who meet the eligibility criteria and need our help the most.

You do not have to be getting benefits to qualify. If you get benefits they will not be affected by a Household Support Fund payment.

To find out more including how to apply visit our household support fund page.

Welfare grant scheme

This scheme can help with basic essentials in a crisis or emergency.

Our welfare grant scheme page has more information.

There are various other grants and support that can help with food and fuel costs. 

Email OSSAppointments@southglos.gov.uk and we will contact you to go through an application.

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Food support

Support is available to make sure you are getting enough to eat.

Visit the One You South Gloucestershire website getting enough to eat page for information on:

• emergency food aid and food banks
• Healthy Start vouchers
• free school meals

Housing costs

You can apply for Universal Credit or Housing Benefit if you are struggling to pay your rent.

If you are already receiving Universal Credit or Housing Benefit you can apply for our Discretionary Housing Payment.

This support is only available for people living in rented or part-rented accommodation.

If you own your home and cannot meet your repayments you should speak to your mortgage provider to find out what help they can offer.

For example, you may be able to temporarily stop your mortgage payments.

Council tax support

There is help available if you are struggling to pay your council tax. You can check if you are eligible for any council tax discounts or exemptions, including council tax reduction.

You can read more on local council tax reduction.

You can also spread your payment instalments out over 12 months instead of the usual 10.
Email CouncilTax@southglos.gov.uk  using the subject title ‘Council Tax instalment amendment’ and include your name, address and billing number in the email.

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Parents on low incomes

We have Department for Education funding to provide free activity clubs for eligible children and young people during school holidays. Visit our information directory for full details about the school holiday activities and food programme.

School clothing costs

We provide help towards the cost of essential school clothing.

There is funding available over the summer holidays for parents who are struggling to afford new clothing when children go back to school in September.

There is also year-round funding for new school clothing for parents in receipt of certain benefits.

Visit our School Uniform Reimbursement Grant page for details.

Other things that can help

A number of organisations provide financial support through grants, gifts, advances and loans including: 

• North Bristol and South Gloucestershire food bank  
• Bristol Charities 
• Buttle UK’s Chances for Children 
• St Monica’s Trust 
• British Gas Energy Trust  

You can search for more grants at Turn2Us.

For members of the Armed Forces, the Royal British Legion has launched a Cost of Living Grants Programme. You can find out more and how to apply on their website.

Visit the Citizens Advice website.

Find how to get independent financial advice in our information directory.

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