Help for Households

If you receive Universal Credit or Housing Benefit and are struggling to meet your housing costs, you may be able to receive additional financial support through a Housing Payment.

Housing Payments have replaced Discretionary Housing Payments as part of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Find out more about Housing Payments and eligibility

Help with heating oil costs

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

Southern Water is providing a £98m package of support for customers to combat the cost-of-living crisis, which is disproportionately hitting the most vulnerable households hardest, across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Anyone who is not on an existing discount tariff but thinks they may be entitled to discounts on their bills can complete an online form on the Southern Water website.

What if I can’t pay my bill?

If you're a pet owner who's struggling to cope with the cost of food or healthcare for your pet, you may welcome the advice and support from the RSPCA.

RSPCA website - The cost of living crisis

Council Tax Support will help to pay your Council Tax if you are on a low income. It is different to the Council Tax discounts and exemptions.

Check if you are eligible

Advice from GOV.UK

Find out about help with childcare costs

St George's Childcare offer subsidised childcare places for families in need in the local area. They support vulnerable children and parents who need time and space to get back on their feet. We help families who are in crisis due to domestic violence, mental health issues, physical illness and financial hardship.

Places are limited and allocated on a case by case basis, in discussion with families. They accept referrals from care providers, and also self-referrals. To contact St George's, please email the Childcare Managers at childcaremanager@stgeorgeschildcare.co.uk

St George's Childcare

The Connectivity Access Scheme has been established to supply individuals that meet the criteria with access to connectivity. This is currently with a mobile 4G Router. The beneficiary must be referred by a professional using Digital Kent's online form. Beneficiaries cannot self-refer, to minimise abuse of the scheme.

Connectivity Access Scheme at Digital Kent

The government has worked with a range of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to deliver low-cost broadband and phone service packages, called social tariffs, for those on low incomes.

Social tariffs are available for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits, with some providers offering deals from £15 a month.

Visit Ofcom website

PWCAC provides a free, confidential, and impartial advice service.  They can give advice and support on debt and money, employment, housing and homelessness, mental health support and welfare benefits matters.

Opening hours: Open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 1:30pm and offer face-to-face appointments as well as a drop-in service.

Paddock Wood Community Advice Centre website

The Salvation Army is able to offer emotional, spiritual and practical support for the local community.

They provide referrals to foodbanks and other groups. They are also able to accept referrals from agencies for people in the local community who require practical assistance for items such as furniture, white goods, bedding, clothing etc.

They run a weekly sale (Thursday) with good quality clothes at very low prices 50p-£2.

Finally, they run a lunch club on Wednesday and Thursday at 12:30 for £5 per day.

The Salvation Army - Tunbridge Wells website

The Community Storehouse is Paddock Wood’s food bank, enabling those who have to share with those who don’t have.

Find out more at The Community Storehouse website

The Kent Advice Hub is a free and confidential video advice service ran by Citizens Advice charities in Kent for Kent residents. Advice and support are given on a range of issues, including energy, benefits, money and debt, housing, consumer rights, immigration issues, plus more.

You can access the service by making a video call at your local Kent Advice Hub video kiosk located at 8th Floor, Royal Victoria Place, Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2SS. It is available from Monday to Thursday between 10am to 2pm.

Alternatively, you can make a video call from home using your own digital device by visiting Kent Advice Hub website. The service operates between Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Visit the Kent Advice Hub