Cost of living and warm spaces
Other support and advice
Money and debt advice
- Welfare Support Service
The Welfare Support Service is the first point of contact for money advice in South Tyneside. - Money and debt support services in South Tyneside
Find local and national support services. - Advice from the government
GOV.UK has help pages about how to support your income, housing support, help with childcare costs, transport and getting into work.
Check if you are entitled to benefits
South Tyneside Council provides:
- Housing Benefit
Help to pay your rent if you are on a low income - Council Tax Support
Help to pay your Council Tax if you're on a low income
The government provides other benefits, such as Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Job Seeker's Allowance and low-income benefits, disabilities benefits and benefits for families.
You can use an independent, free benefits calculator to check what you could be entitled to. See GOV.UK: Benefits calculator.
Also see GOV.UK: Benefits
Entitledto
Entitledto is an organisation which works with councils and housing associations to help people claim benefits - it provides an easy to use calculator to help people find out what they are entitled to and go on to make a claim.
Energy and water bills
- British Gas Energy Trust
Helping families and individuals experiencing hardship who are struggling with energy debts. - OVO Energy Fund
Helping people who've fallen behind with their energy payments to OVO. - E.ON Energy Fund
Helping the most vulnerable existing or previous customers of E.ON Energy. The Fund can help pay current or final E.ON energy bill arrears to customers living in England, Scotland or Wales. - EDF customer support fund
Providing support for those who may be struggling with their household energy bills. From insulation and replacement heating systems to energy-efficient white goods. - Scottish Power Hardship Fund
If you're on a lower income and are struggling to pay your energy bills, you may be eligible for the ScottishPower Hardship Fund. - Simple energy advice
- Energy saving trust
- Stay Switched on Campaign: Let's Help our Communities Keep Safe
Sign up to your energy supplier's priority service register to see if you're eligible for extra support. - Northumbrian Water SupportPlus
If you're on a low income, less than £17,005 per annum, or receive pension credit, Northumbrian Water may be able to reduce your bill by up to 50%. - Northumbrian Water WaterSure
If you have a water meter Northumbrian Water will cap your metered charges, if you use more water than average, for reasons that can't be helped, such as a disability. - Northumbrian Water Financial Support
Offering a range of ways to help if you are struggling with water bills. - LEAP
A free service that is helping people keep warm and reduce their energy bills without costing them any money.
Crisis support, food and household items
- Crisis support
If you have a financial crisis, you may be able to get short-term financial help. - Food banks
Food banks supply food parcels for individuals and families in crisis. - Warm spaces South Tyneside
Public spaces you can go to if you need to get warm, save money on heating costs, avoid social isolation, and receive support and advice. - Greggs Foundation Hardship Fund
Grants may be available from the Greggs Foundation Hardship Fund for white goods / carpets / baby items / clothing and vouchers for food shopping. - Support with heating and insulation (Energy Company Obligation)
Home energy efficiency measures such as insulation and upgrading inefficient heating for low income and fuel-poor households. - Eon Next
A replacement scheme for white goods if they become broken or are in a poor condition.
Jobs and skills support
- South Tyneside Works
South Tyneside Works offers a range of over 250 courses to help you get into work, change career path and to improve your skills. Eligible learners will be fully funded and have nothing to pay towards the cost of the course. - Employment and training agencies in South Tyneside
Agencies in South Tyneside to help you get back into work, training, or education, or support you with setting up your own business. - Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Help and support from the Local Government Pension Scheme during the cost of living crisis.
Health and wellbeing
- Mental health breathing space
If you have debts and are unable to repay them, you may be able to get some breathing space from your creditors until your mental health condition improves. - Money saving expert
- Advice and support services
Support to stop smoking, gambling, reducing your alcohol intake and more. - Homelessness and rough sleeping
Get in touch with our homelessness and rough sleeping support services.
Support with education
- Free school meals
Information on how you can get free school meals. - School transport
You may be able to get help with school transport.
Other support
- Energy saving tips to save money
There are lots of things you can do at home to reduce the amount of energy you use. - Good Things Foundation: National Databank
Providing free data to 500,000 people in need, in partnership with Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Three. - Help for Households campaign - social tarrifs
Internet Service Providers (IPS) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) delivering low-cost broadband and phone service packages for those on low incomes. Use the social tariff toolkit or see the campaign. - £2 capped fares for bus, Metro and ferry this winter
The £2 cap will come into effect from 1 January to 31 March. - Healthcare travel costs scheme
You may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.