Help with the cost of living

Available payments:

• Cold weather payments - if you get certain benefits, you may be entitled to a cold weather payment. This is applicable when the temperature recorded or forecast to be zero degrees or below zero on seven consecutive days.
• Warm Home Discount Scheme – if you are eligible, you could receive a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill.
• Winter fuel payments - Help to pay heating bills is available through the winter fuel payment scheme. If you qualify for a winter fuel payment but don’t get paid automatically, you’ll need to make a claim.

Energy advice and support:

• Energy advice and support provides details of the range of supports available to support our residents.
• Citrus Energy provides impartial advice to domestic and commercial energy consumers, helping them to make savings on gas and electricity costs.
• Scottish Government Ready for Winter Campaign provides advice and tips on winter readiness.
• Home Energy Scotland provides free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more. For free advice contact us on 0808 808 2282.

If you're struggling to heat your home, you could be eligible for support from the Scottish Government funded Warmer Homes Scotland programme to help make your home warmer and cosier.

• Crisis and Community Care Grants - support for residents on low income/qualifying benefits who have suffered a disaster or emergency
• Free school meals and clothing grants - means tested for children in low income households
• Council Tax reduction - helps people on a low income pay all, or part, of their Council Tax
• Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if you claim Housing Benefit or receive housing cost payments through Universal Credit and need financial help because your benefit is less than the full amount of your rent, DHP can help cover this (if you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit you can claim a DHP to help pay your rent)
• Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods - payments that help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child
• Carers - if you look after someone find out about Carer Support Payment, Young Carer Grant and Carer's Allowance Supplement
• Disability benefits - if you have a disability, illness or condition find out about Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment and more
• Funeral Support Payment - helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland

Support from our Your Next Move North Ayrshire team to help you find work.

There are foodbanks and community larders all across North Ayrshire. Period products are available free of charge.

Shopping on a budget

Cut food shopping bills by:

• planning meals and writing a shopping list
• reviewing deals on offer in shops
• trying supermarket own brand products

Parents interested in using real nappies can try them out for free.

Cooking on a budget

• Association of UK Dieticians - cooking on a budget, healthy meals from scratch
• Good to Know - cheap family meals
• Love Food Hate Waste – top tips and food saving recipes
• Uswitch - energy efficient cooking

Clothing and furniture

Cheaper clothing options include:

• supermarket brands
• charity shops
• second-hand clothing apps

Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company is an affordable option when furnishing a home. Their mattress reuse project cleans, sanitises and resells donated mattresses.

• Care and support services - wellbeing, emotional and practical support services available to North Ayrshire residents
• Health and wellbeing support - North Ayrshire Library Service
• Mental Health and Addiction - North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership
• Mental health and wellbeing advice - North Ayrshire Education Service
• Mental Health & Wellbeing - NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• North Ayrshire Community Link Workers may be contacted through doctor surgeries in North Ayrshire and will help you to find groups and services to meet your needs

• Chap helps people in need
• Christians against poverty provides free debt counselling and support
• Citizens Advice Scotland provides budgeting guidance and a link to a free budget planner