Benefits & support - Cost of living support

Support is available if you are struggling financially or emotionally due to the rising cost of living.

You might be finding it hard to keep up with energy payments or worried you won't be able to afford the essentials.

To help make it easier to find the help and advice that is right for you, we’ve listed support that is available by topic.

Table of contents

Energy – Help with fuel costs

Child Winter Heating Payment – payment to help disabled young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter.
Scottish welfare fund – helps families and people in Scotland who are on low incomes through Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants.
Fuel Bank Foundation £30 Voucher – fuel voucher for prepayment meter customers in fuel crisis, contact Community Advice Services team or Advice and Support Hub staff.
Energy Debt – if you are struggling with your energy bills, please get in touch with the Debt Advice team.
Condensation in your home – advice on how to deal with condensation.
If you're struggling with energy bills, please contact your supplier directly as they may be able to create a more affordable payment plan.

More information is available, on our energy grants page.

Energy Saving Tips

Only fill the kettle for what you need, overfilling the kettle wastes a large amount of energy – an estimated 70 million litres of water are unnecessarily boiled each day.
Wash your clothes at 30°C instead of 60°C – this uses 57% less electricity.
Putting lids on pans while cooking uses up to 90% less energy, the food cooks quicker, and less moisture is released into the kitchen. If you have a gas cooker, keep the tip of the gas flame under the pan. The heat is in the tip not the side of the flame.
Don't put furniture or curtains in front of radiators. They will absorb the heat and stop it warming the room.
Make use of your tin foil – putting kitchen foil behind radiators reflects more heat back into a room. Just mount some foil on cardboard (shiny side outwards) and you're good to go.

For more tips, please see guidance on domestic energy saving.

Money – Managing your money and debt

Benefits calculator – on average £36m worth of benefits go unclaimed in the Falkirk area each year, find out what benefits you might be eligible to claim.
Worrying about money? – find out what financial support is available to you.
Free period products – how to request free period products if you live locally.
Free bus travel for people aged 60 and over – apply for Scotland-wide free bus travel if you are aged 60 or over.
Young persons' free bus travel scheme – young people aged between 5 and 21 years old are eligible for free bus travel.
Scottish welfare fund – access Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants.
Council tax reduction – find out the criteria and apply for support.
Cheaper broadband and phone packages – a large number of broadband providers now offer discounted social tariff products, with some offering deals from as low as £10 per month.
Find a job or training opportunity – help to find a job and access training to get work.
Get help to manage your money – If you're worried about debt or are struggling to manage your money, we can help. Last year over 1000 people in the Falkirk Council area got help from local money advice services.
Help with your TV Licence – more information on the Simple Payment plan and how to be referred. Alternatively, contact our Debt Advice team.
British Red Cross Scottish Crisis Fund – this fund is available if you are at risk of destitution and in receipt of no funds whatsoever. A referral can be made through Community Advice Services.

Food support – Help with food costs

Free school meals – check if your child can get free school meals and how to apply.
Our Falkirk map – find the location of useful local support services in Falkirk including food provision, free Wi-Fi, period products and money advice and support services.
Food Activity Grants – funds up to £400 are available for community groups and organisations interested in setting up food activities.
Let's Get Cooking – low cost, easy recipes.

Wellbeing – Looking after your health and wellbeing

Go card – eligible residents can sign up for our Go Card and access concessions across lots of activities and facilities, from gym memberships, cinema tickets, and FREE swimming.
Libraries – find your nearest library where you can sit, work and relax.
Domestic abuse – support available to those experiencing domestic abuse.
Community groups and services – a directory of groups and services available across the Falkirk area by category.
Community warm spaces – a map of safe, warm, and welcoming spaces within the local community.
Gender-Based Violence – information on services and what to do if you are experiencing gender-based violence.
Falkirk Community Mental Health and Wellbeing – mental health information and services for young people in Falkirk aged 5 to 24 years old (26 if care-experienced).

Family

Early learning and childcare – how to access up to 1140 hours of funded early learning and childcare each year.
School uniforms and meals – support to help with your child's school clothing and shoes and find out if your child can get free school meals.
Education maintenance allowance – if you are 16 to 19 years old and want to continue learning, find out if you are eligible for financial support.
Free School Meal Holiday Payments – payment of £2.50 per day for all young people eligible for free school meals during the school holidays.
Best Start Foods - payments that help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child. Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that can be used in shops or online to buy healthy foods like milk or fruit.

Where to go for help

The Support for People service can provide advice and support to those living on a low income. Officers are available to speak to you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm:

Support for People

0808 100 3161

Visit our Advice and Support Hubs for more information on support available.

Benefits support

You can find out what benefits support you may be entitled to by using our benefits calculator, or get in touch with our Welfare Benefits team.

Worried about debt

If you're worried about debt or are struggling to manage your money, contact our Debt Advice Team for support.

Financial emergency

If you are in a financial emergency, contact the Scottish Welfare Fund by completing an application form, or call:

Scottish Welfare Fund

01324 506070

Further support

For more information on the advice and support available, visit the Scottish Government's Cost of Living Support page.

Complete the UK Government's Benefits and Financial Support checker to make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to.

Safety

Scammers are targeting people struggling with their energy bills. Energy Advice offer free and practical advice on how to stay safe.