Struggling to pay your bills? Need help with the cost of food? Unsure which benefits you are entitled to? 

Reaching out for help can sometimes feel difficult, but it doesn’t need to be. We are here to help with the cost-of-living.

Simply click on the topics below to access support.

I need help with:

• Paying my rent 

  If you are struggling to pay your rent, please let us know as soon as possible. 

  You can do so by contacting your Neighbourhood Service Officer directly, emailing us via enquiries@ovh.org.uk or calling us on 0300 365 1111. 

  You may be eligible to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if you are unable to meet housing costs from your available income and are in receipt of Housing Benefits or Universal Credit. To apply for a DHP, please visit our local support services section below.

  If you are refused a DHP and are affected by bedroom tax, a benefit cap, and/or Universal Credit, you may be eligible to apply for our Hardship Fund to help pay your rent. Please contact us via the details above for more information and to arrange an affordability assessment.

• Understanding which benefits I’m entitled to

  It is important to ensure you are receiving all of the benefits that you are entitled to. 

  If you are unsure on what you can access, please contact us by emailing enquiries@ovh.org.uk or calling 0300 365 1111 and ask to speak to our Financial Inclusion Team.

• Council tax bill

  Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible to apply for a council tax reduction or discount. 

  You should contact your council to see what support is available. Please visit our local support services section below for more information.

• Gas, electric and water bills

  If you are worried about keeping warm or paying your utility bills, you should contact your supplier as they may be able to help with debt and manageable repayment plans.

  You could also be eligible to get help through:

  • Citizens Advice’s emergency top up vouchers for prepayment meters 
  • The Government’s: 
    • Warm Home Discount Scheme
    • Cold Weather Payment
    • Winter Fuel Payment 

  You can also get advice from:

  • National Energy Action, available Monday to Friday on 0800 304 7159 between 10am and 2.30pm.
  • Energy Advice Freephone Line, available Monday to Friday on 0800 043 0151 between 9am and 5pm.
• Wifi, TV and phone bills

  If you are worried about paying for wifi, TV and/or phone bills, you should contact your supplier(s) as they may be able to help by:

  • Moving your bill date
  • Moving you to a different tariff  
  • Setting up manageable repayment plans

  You could also be eligible to get help through:

  • A low-cost plan if you receive benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. 
  • Six months of free wifi with TalkTalk if you are a jobseeker. Simply contact your local centre to learn more.

  If you plan to change to a new supplier, be sure to check whether your current contract has a cancellation fee before switching.

  You can also get advice from Money Helper, who provide free support and advice around debts online, by phone or face-to-face. 

• The cost of food

  If you are worried about the cost of food, we may be able to help with vouchers for food clubs and pantries. For more information, please contact us by emailing enquiries@ovh.org.uk or calling 0300 365 1111 and ask to speak to our Financial Inclusion Team.

  To find a food bank near you;

  • Visit our local support services section below 
  • Visit the The Trussel Trust’s website 

  To find your local food club;

  • Visit Feeding Liverpool’s website

  Your children may also be eligible for free school meals. Please visit the Government’s website to see eligibility criteria.

• The cost of my child’s school uniform

  If you need support with school uniforms, there are some ways you may be able to get help:

  • Speak to the school – they may have lost property or donated uniforms they can allocate to you and may be able to issue a uniform grant in some cases.
  • Check social media – local Facebook groups are a great resource to find uniforms from people in your community.
  • Explore local charity shops – you may find uniforms for a discounted price.
  • Ask your council for support – your local council may be able to help with uniforms.

  There are also a range of organisations in your local area that may be able to help – please visit our local support services section below for more information.

• Finding a place to keep warm

  If you are worried about keeping warm this winter, please visit our local support services section below for more information.

• My mental health

  You should talk to your GP if the cost-of-living is affecting your mental health. 

  Need emergency help? 

  • You can find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline on the NHS website. 
  • Call the Samaritans on their free helpline: 116 123 (available any time, Monday to Sunday).
  • Text “SHOUT” to 85258 for free from all major UK mobile networks to be connected to a volunteer for an anonymous conversation. This free, confidential, text messaging mental health support service is run by a charity called Mental Health Innovations (available any time, Monday to Sunday).

Looking for local support services?

Simply click on the area you live in below to explore support available to you.

• I live in Sefton

  Simply click on the topics below to get help with:

  • Paying your rent
  • Paying your council tax bills
  • Paying your gas, electric and water bills
  • Household items such as furniture and appliances
  • The cost of food

  You can also get help with:

  • The cost of energy, food and water through Sefton Council’s Household Support Fund
  • School uniforms from:

  • • Compassion Acts’ Uniform Hub
    • Southport Uniform Exchange Facebook group
    • Litherland Family Wellbeing Centre

  If you need a free place to keep warm, you can search for a place close to you on:

  • Sefton Council’s list of warm places
  • Sefton Council’s list of wellbeing hubs
  • Sefton CVS’ map of warm spaces
  • Warm Welcome’s map of warm welcome spaces

  For any other assistance, please visit Sefton Council’s website or call 0345 140 0845.

• I live in Liverpool

  Simply click on the topics below to get help with:

  • Paying your rent
  • Paying your council tax bills
  • Paying your gas, electric and water bills
  • Household items such as furniture and appliances
  • The cost of food

  You can also get help with the cost of school uniforms from Liverpool Preloved Free School Uniforms Facebook group.

  If you need a free place to keep warm, you can:

  • visit a local library
  • visit a free museum or gallery
  • find a Warm Welcome space

  For any other assistance, please visit Liverpool City Council’s website or call 0151 233 300.

• I live in Wirral

  Simply click on the topics below to get help with:

  • Paying your rent
  • Paying your council tax bills
  • Paying your gas, electric and water bills
  • Household items such as furniture and appliances
  • The cost of food
  • The cost of school uniforms

  If you need a free place to keep warm, you can:

  • visit a local library
  • search for a location on the Wirral InfoBank
  • visit the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight
  • find a Warm Welcome space

  For any other assistance, please visit Wirral Council’s website or call 0151 606 2000.

• I live in St Helens

  Simply click on the topics below to get help with:

  • Paying your rent
  • Paying your council tax bills
  • Paying your gas, electric and water bills
  • Household items such as furniture and appliances
  • The cost of food

  You can also get help with the cost of school uniforms from:

  • St Helens Uniform Bank and Swap Shop Facebook group
  • T.A.N.G.O

  If you need a free place to keep warm, you can:

  • visit a local library
  • find a Warm Welcome space

  For any other assistance, please visit St Helens Council’s website or call 01744 676 789.

• I live in Cheshire East

  Simply click on the topics below to get help with:

  • Paying your rent
  • Paying your council tax bills
  • Paying your gas, electric and water bills
  • Household items such as furniture and appliances
  • The cost of food
  • The cost of school uniforms

  If you need a free place to keep warm, you can:

  • visit a local library, gallery or museum
  • find a Warm Welcome space

  If you are a resident in Cheshire East, are unable to pay your energy bills and are in short-term hardship causing a suspension of regular income (i.e. loss of employment, delay or suspension of welfare benefit payment, relationship breakdown etc), you can also apply to the Home Energy Support Fund. Simply download this form, fill it in and send it to hesf@citizensadvicecn.org.uk to get started.

  For any other assistance, please visit Cheshire East Council’s website or call 0300 123 5500.

• I live in Cheshire West

  Simply click on the topics below to get help with:

  • Paying your rent
  • Paying your council tax bills
  • Paying your gas, electric and water bills
  • Household items such as furniture and appliances
  • The cost of food
  • The cost of school uniforms

  If you need a free place to keep warm, you can:

  • visit a local library
  • visit a local gallery or museum
  • find a Warm Welcome space

  For any other assistance, please visit Cheshire West and Chester Council’s website or call 0300 123 5500. You can also sign up to the council’s cost-of-living support newsletter.