Cost of Living Support
With everyday costs still rising, Warwick District Council would like to signpost you to the government and local support packages available, as well as professional organisations who are able to offer advice and assistance during these difficult times.
Further contacts and useful tools for calculating benefit entitlement, budgeting and details of advice and support are available here on the Warwick District Council website. This includes help with:
- Benefits and Universal Credit
- Water bills
- Gas and electric bills
- Food Support
- Financial Advice and calculators
- Family and childcare
- School holiday clubs and activities
- Free school meals
- Housing
- Health and Wellbeing
- How to access Citizens Advice
Government Support
In 2023/24 a new payment of £900 will be paid to household who are claiming one of the following means-tested benefits:
- Universal Credit *
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance *
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance *
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit*
- Child Tax Credit *
- Pension Credit
The first £301 instalment was paid in April 2023 with the second of £300 was in November 2023 and the third of £299 to be paid in spring 2024.
Winter Fuel Payment up to £300 – for people born on or before 26 September 1956 (this is in addition to the cost- of-living payment (above) for those eligible).
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment – this includes individuals claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment ,Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment.
For further details of these and other cost of living support schemes available visit the Government Website or talk to Citizen’s Advice.
If you are eligible, the payment will be sent out automatically and in the same way you receive your existing benefits – so you do not need to apply or do anything to receive it.
*Please note that restrictions on eligibility apply and that payments are made per household
Working when on benefits – If you are on Universal Credit or other benefits, you and/or partner may be able to earn a certain amount per month (Work Allowance) before your benefit rate is affected. You can find out more about income thresholds and working benefit entitlements from your Financial Inclusion Officer or Citizen’s Advice.
Visit your local job centre to find out about part-time or home working roles.
Other Support
VASA South Warwickshire – Volunteer drivers can take passengers to medical and other appointments, groups, activities and day care charging a small mileage and admin fee.
Tel: 01789 262889 Email: hello@vasa.org.uk
Bus Travel – Adult single bus fares are capped at £2 until 31 October 2024 when using Stagecoach, Arriva, National Express, Pulhams, IndieGo PLUS Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), Diamond. More information can be found here.
Digital/Internet access and IT equipment – Support is available from your local community centres (listed below) and also from the Warwickshire Library Service , which you can read more about here.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) – Programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE), though Warwickshire County Council to provide young people who are in full-time education (Reception to Year 11) and eligible for benefits- related free school meals with access to enriching activities and meals, for free, during the three main school holidays: Winter, Spring and Summer. Read more.
Action 21 Really Useful Centre – Unit 3, Milverton House, Court Street, Leamington Spa. Open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, selling a range of quality second hand items at bargain prices including clothing, shoes, kitchenware, furniture, bikes and tools.
Kenilworth Lions Furniture Store and Bazaar – John Price House, Farmer Ward Road, Kenilworth, CV8 2DH. Open every Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. range of furniture, electrical appliances, household goods at bargain prices.
Warm and Safer Home Grants Up to £10,000 of funding available to eligible residents to make essential repairs or safety improvements to their homes. Owner occupiers who are receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support or Pension Credit could receive funding to cover a wide range of works from addressing security issues, to a lack of hygiene facilities or take measures to provide better heating in cold homes.
Email: HeartEnquiries@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk Tel: 02476 376299.
Warwick District Council Support
Council Tax Reduction Scheme – households on a low income including the self-employed may be entitled to a reduction in their Council Tax.
Discretionary Housing Payments – these are payments to help pay your rent if you get housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit and the amount you receive does not cover your full rent.
Housing Benefit – housing benefit was replaced by Universal Credit in 2018, however you may still get benefit to help you to pay your rent if you are state pension age or are living in temporary accommodation or accommodation where care and support is being provided.
Financial Inclusion Team – the Council’s team can provide a variety of support to our customers living in our council homes, this includes advice on rent payments, benefits, budgeting, charity applications, foodbank vouchers and fuel poverty.
Further information is available by visiting the Warwick District Council Cost of Living Webpage. or calling the following numbers:
Council tax and benefits – 01926 456760
Housing and homelessness support – 01926 456129
Help with your finances (Council tenants) – 01926 456454/456336
The Council offices at Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa CV32 5HZ are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30am for walk-ins and appointments.
Help with Food and Welfare
Open to anyone struggling to put food on the table regardless of benefit entitlement. Use the below contact details to request a voucher that to be used at your local foodbank listed below or for more information.
Tel: 0808 2082138 or Email: info@warwickdistrict.foodbank.org.uk
Heathcote Primary School – (access via Old Station nursery gate), Vickers Way, Heathcote, CV34 7AP. Open Mondays 10am to 12 noon
Southorn Court, Lillington – The Crest, Lillington, Leamington Spa CV32 7PU. Open Tuesdays 11am to 1pm
St Mary’s Church – St Mary’s Road, Leamington Spa CV31 1JW. Open Wednesdays 1pm to 3pm.
St Paul’s Church – Leicester Street, Leamington Spa CV32 4TE. Open Thursdays 2pm to 4pm
The Westbury Centre – Westlea Road, Leamington Spa CV31 3JE. Open Fridays 11am to 1pm.
Myton Church – at The Westbury Centre – Free Lunches, every Tuesday 12:15pm.
The Kenilworth Centre – Abbey End Car Park, Kenilworth CV8 1QJ. 01926 855205.
Helping Hands Community – offers food and a range of support to local people in need. 9a Althorpe Street, Leamington Spa CV31 2AU. 01926 768500
Lillington Community Pantry – food and advice for members of The Pantry 11am to 3pm. Community Café offering free food 11 – 3pm on Thursdays and Fridays. For further information and membership call 01926 350 800 or email lillington@ thecommunitypantry.org.uk.
St John The Baptist – Tachbrook Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 3BN. 01926 289459
Food Kitchen – free hot meal to eat in or take away. Wednesdays 5.30 – 6.30pm.
Food Larder – free food and toiletries in the church porch on Wednesday and Sunday mornings the church on Wednesday and Sunday mornings.
Ahmadiyya Food Bank – Ahmadiyya Muslim Centre, Riverside, Adelaide Rd, Leamington Spa CV32 5A. Call 01926 330430 or email leamingtonspa@ahmadiyyauk.org.
Community Centres and Local Support Schemes
Citizens Advice South Warwickshire – a range of advice and information relating to benefits, debt, housing, employment, family, consumer, education, tax, law and rights issues.
Tel: 0808 250 5715 or online.
The Leamington office is open on Tuesday 10am to 12 noon for triage sessions.
Warwickshire Out of Hours Service – on Mondays 5pm-7pm
Tel: 0800 995 6047 or online.
Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme – helps our most vulnerable residents at times of unavoidable crisis when they have no other means of help. To enquire or to apply for support, call 0800 408 1448 or 01926 359182 Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am – 4.30pm.
Your local community centres are welcoming places that can provide support and assistance with health and wellbeing, employment, financial support, food support, mental health, energy concerns, loneliness and isolation. They can also help you access the internet and IT and many provide Youth Clubs and School Holiday Activities.
Brunswick Hub – 98-100 Shrubland St, Leamington Spa CV31 3BD. 01926 422123
Chase Meadow Community Centre – Narrow Hall Meadow, Warwick CV34 6BT. 01926 490845
Crown Routes One Stop Shop – Acorn Court, Stockton Grove, Lillington, Leamington Spa, CV32 7NP. Email crownroutes@brunswickhlc.org.uk or call Laura on 07874 865617.
The Gap 39 Oakwood Grove, Warwick CV34 5TD Tel: 01926 494200
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Centre
Riverside, Adelaide Road, Leamington Spa CV32 5AH
Tel: 01926 330430 Email: leamingtonspa@ahmadiyyauk.org