News- Warm Spots & Cost of Living

Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced the reopening of the Warm Home Discount scheme which will provide a discount of £150 off electricity bills for three million low-income households this winter. Most households will receive the discount automatically.

The government has launched a new online tool, to make it easier for the public to check if they are eligible for the discount. The online tool will guide customers through the eligibility criteria in England and Wales, asking questions about electricity supply, the benefits they receive and characteristics of their property.

All customers will receive a letter between this month (November) and mid-January 2023 confirming their eligibility and the payment will be made automatically through energy suppliers by March 2023.

The government is also writing to customers who may be eligible, advising them to use the tool linked below to check eligibility, as well as to use the helpline for particularly complex cases.

Cost of Living

Cost of Living Community Leaders Guide

Cumbria County Council have identifed that it has been useful to schools, staff in libraries, and all kinds of voluntary and community sector groups to have a toolkit or guide to assit with community issues and they have developed and published a new guide which can be opened using the underlined link below:

Cost of Living Community Leaders Guide

Household leaflet

An electronic copy of the Household Leaflet, that should be dropping through letterboxes across Cumbria can beopened using the underlined link below:

Cost of Living household leaflet

Infant Formula – Emergency Supplies

Infant formula milk is a big cost for families with babies under a year old, and people will clearly be struggling with this as the cost of living rises. The public health team have set up a system to provide short term, emergency supplies where families have less than 48 hours supply of formula milk and aren’t in a position to buy more.

This will be provided via people who are trained in infant feeding – Midwives, Health Visitors, and the Children and Families Support Service (children’s centres)

There’s a public leaflet attached with lots of information on how to safely formula feed you baby (there’s a risk that people will feel they need to reduce the amount of formula they use, or consider making formula up with cold water – it needs to be made with boiled water (and then allowed to cool) to kill off any bacteria that may be in the powder), how to keep your baby warm and safe, and how to access emergency formula if necessary.

If you are unable to afford to formula feed your baby please contact the services below who will help you access an emergency provision of formula.
Ways to access food

You may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme if you are receipt of certain benefits. It takes 3-5 days to receive your card after applying and can be used towards the cost of formula, fruit & vegetables: www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Food banks will supply of food for families that have been referred or given a voucher by their GP, Midwife, Health Visitor, School, Nursery or children & families Support Service.

Cumbria County Council Support Helpline on 0800 783 1966

(Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4.30pm).

Cumbria County Council Cumbria Winter advice for families with babies:

Barnardos, Eden – 01768 899901

Money Navigator Tool – reminder

Anyone in financial difficulty can access money and debt guidance for free. Money Helper UK provides guidance based upon individual circumstances and help find support in their area.