Warm Home discount
The Warm Home discount scheme has undergone some changes and will now be used to help even more people in England and Wales.
The scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill. You’ll usually get the discount automatically if you’re eligible. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible – please contact your supplier to find out.
Other government heating schemes include cold weather payments of £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1st November and 31st March, to all eligible households; and winter fuel payments to residents born on or before 25th September 1956.
Cold weather payment
The Cold Weather Payment scheme applies if you receive eligible benefits. You will get these payments automatically and you do not need to apply.
You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1st November 2025 and 31st March 2026.
Winter fuel payment
If you were born before 22nd September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. Most people will get the winter fuel payment automatically if they’re eligible. If you are eligible you will receive a letter in October or November saying how much you’ll get, and it will be paid in November or December 2025.
If your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take the winter fuel payment back.
Bradford council support
Assisted Purchase Scheme
You may be able to get support purchasing essential household goods such as beds, electric cookers, fridge freezers, microwaves and washing machines.
You must be in receipt of eligible benefits and meet other eligibility criteria.
NOTE: this is a low-cost loan which is interest free.
Helping low-income households with energy and food costs
There will be a payment issues by December 2025 to all households who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. The amount of the award and date of issue is still to be determined.
There is no application process – they will work out from Council Tax records who is eligible and send the money automatically.
Useful links
Check eligibility and apply
Bradford Council Assisted Purchase Scheme
Help with Household Support Costs
Bradford Council
Applying for Universal Credit
What Universal Credit is?
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s usually paid once a month.
You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work. If you already get other benefits
Universal Credit replaces the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
How much you will get depends on various circumstances such as age, relationship status, whether you have any children, whether you care for somebody, your childcare costs, if you have a disability or health condition, and any housing costs you may have.
This will also depend on any applicable deductions.
Useful links
Use a benefits calculator to check what you could get
Gov.uk
Citizens Advice Help to Claim Service
Citizens Advice
Help Paying for your childcare
TAX-FREE CHILDCARE – GET UP TO £2000 PER CHILD
For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK
Earning under £100k and at least £195.36 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) each.
Who aren’t receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
With children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled, eligibility criteria apply)
For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year.
30 Hours FUNDED Childcare for 9 month to 4 year olds – key details
- For families in England, where you (and your partner if you have one) are both in work and earn over £195.36 per week
- With 9 month to 4-year-old children
- 30 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks
- To be able to take up 30 hours of free childcare for your 9 month to 4-year-old you or your child must meet the eligibility criteria. Please visit Best Start in Life for further information.
- A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use with one or two childcare providers
- Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week (roughly 22 hours per week stretched)
- A surcharge may apply in some settings
Find out more about similar schemes in Scotland, Wales / Cymru, and Northern Ireland
Useful Links
You could be benefitting from cut-price broadband today.
The Government is supporting people with their households bills, working with providers to offer social tariffs to those struggling to afford broadband or phone services. Social tariffs offer cheaper, reliable broadband and phone packages to those on low incomes. For some, accessing this could mean a saving of around £180 a year.
useful links
Find out if you qualify. Visit ofcom.org.uk/cheap-broadband
Alternative payment arrangements
If you’re facing financial issues that are affecting your ability to manage your money, and/or you are are in arrears with your rent, the Department for Work and Pensions may be able to offer an Alternative Payment Arrangements.
This means they could pay housing costs of Universal Credit directly to your landlord, offering payments more frequently than monthly, or splitting payment between partners.
Useful links
Alternative Payment Arrangements
Gov.uk