See what support is available to help with the cost of living on the Help for Households government page.
Check you’re getting the right benefits
Around 25% of benefits go unclaimed.
Make sure you’re getting all the money you’re supposed to get by doing a short benefits calculation. Use the calculators above to check.
Book an appointment for help
If you want to talk to someone who can help make sure you’re getting all the help that you need, then book an appointment with us.
We can help you budget, signpost you to help and refer you to grants. You can do this by completing our support form.
Household Support Fund
This fund has now closed. For more information, please visit Cambridgeshire County Council's page on the Household support fund.
Central government help
Find out about the different government schemes that are available to help with the cost of living.
To help you to sort your bills/payments into the right order and advise on what you need to do if you’re struggling to pay (before you miss a payment) you can use the Government bill prioritiser tool.
You can visit the government’s website for help living on a low income which is called MoneyHelper.
The government have a Money Navigator Tool, that will help you work out what issues to deal with first and ways of staying on top of your bills.
You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you have been on certain benefits for 6 months. You will have to pay back the amount you borrow (repayments are taken automatically from your benefits).
Childcare support
Information on tax-free childcare, Child Benefit and a one-off payment of £500 to help with maternity costs is available on the Government’s childcare webpage.
Help buying school uniforms
- Uniformed charity provides vouchers to families with children that are receiving free school meals for up to 3 children in any one family
- Growkids Cambridge provides pre-loved uniforms for primary school children
- Cambridge Aid support children with clothes and shoes, unaffordable outings and activities, books
- CHS has received a £1,000 grant from the Ann Docwra Fund to support families struggling with the cost of school uniforms. If you’re working with CHS tenants who may be in need, please refer them to moneyadvice@chsgroup.org.uk.
- Emmaus Cambridge keep some donated uniforms at their Landbeach store: Green End, Landbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9FD
- it is also worth checking with local schools to see if they have second-hand uniforms.
Council Tax and Benefits support
If you’re on a low income and struggling to meet Council Tax payments, you may be eligible for Council Tax support.
Our benefits calculator will help you check if you’re entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax support.
If you’re already claiming certain benefits, you may be entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Cambridgeshire's Local Assistance Scheme (CLAS)
Citizens Advice Rural Cambs and Cambridge Citizens Advice will be providing interim support to deliver CLAS. As Universal Access providers, they will be able to support households throughout Cambridgeshire who are in need of essential household items and crisis support. To be awarded a crisis grant, households must meet the eligibility criteria and provide evidence of financial need.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must:
- have lived in Cambridgeshire for at least 6 months (unless they have moved to the area for safety reasons)
- be facing hardship or exceptional financial pressure (evidence must be provided)
- have no savings
- be in receipt of, or eligible for, one of the following means‑tested benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income‑based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
An assessment will be carried out to see if you could be eligible for a CLAS award. The award can be in the form of:
- supermarket vouchers
- energy vouchers
- new white goods
- decorating packs
- beds
- mattresses
- recycled white goods and furniture
How households can access support
You can access support through one of the Citizens Advice websites, or by phoning 0808 278 7808: