Help With Your Bills

Utility bill savings, insulation and home adaptations

Having a child with additional needs can add significant costs to running your home while simultaneously reducing your income. For this reason, there are lots of support systems in place to help level the playing field. If things get really tough financially, the Family fund http://www.familyfund.org.uk/ might be able to help. They can help with essential items such as washing machines, fridges and clothing, but will also consider grants for sensory toys, computers and much needed family breaks together.

The Citizens Advice Bureau can also give you advice about local support grants and services in your area.

Most energy companies have their own fund/Trust to help you if you are in trouble with your bills. You’ll find links to Npower, EDF and British Gas below, but whatever supplier you’re with, they will most likely run a similar scheme. The links below will give you more advice, and will help you make sure you’re not paying too much for your gas and electricity.

Utility Bill Discount

Gas and electricity

Some gas and electricity suppliers have set up funds that give grants if you're in financial hardship because of fuel costs. Ask your supplier what's available. Some charities, such as Macmillan, also make grants towards fuel costs.

Even if you fall behind in your payments, you shouldn't have your electricity or gas supply cut off during the winter months if your home has someone who is disabled or has a long-term illness living there, or if you have a child under 18 living with you.

Make sure you are receiving the Cold Weather Payment. Your child's disability may qualify you for it.

Priority service register

Energy providers keep a priority service register of disabled customers. You can contact your supplier and ask to be put on this register. You'll then be entitled to some services for free, including:

• free annual gas safety checks

• bills in different formats, eg large print and Braille

• quarterly meter reading services

• priority in an emergency

Water bills

Some water companies can offer you help from their charitable trust schemes. In some cases, there will be schemes that match whatever payments you make, e.g. for every £10 you can pay, they will match it with £10. Contact your water company for more information.

The WaterSure scheme is available for families on certain benefits who have a water meter. It allows them to have their bills capped. To find out more, have a look at the OFWAT website.

Your local council and Citizens Advice Bureau will also be able to advise you about what other help is available.

Council Tax Discount

You can get a discount on your Council Tax if your child needs extra space or an additional bathroom because of their special need.

To Qualify

Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction. The property must be the main residence of your disabled child. And it must also have at least one of these:

• an additional bathroom or kitchen required to meet the needs of the disabled child

• a room required to meet the needs of the disabled child, and used predominantly by them

• extra space inside the property to allow for the use of a wheelchair.

What reduction can you get?

Your bill will be reduced to the next Council Tax band down. For example, a C property will be charged at a B rate. Even if your property is in Band A (the lowest band) you will still receive a reduction.

 There is more information on the Directgov site.

How to apply

If you think you are eligible for a Council Tax Reduction, you should apply to your local council. You can find them through this link.

Are you in the wrong band?

If you think your Council Tax band might be wrong, you can find information on how to challenge it here.