Cost of Living Support

He​lp with Uniform

W​e can offer items of uniform such as shoes skirts, shirts, blazers and jumpers. We can also offer these on a short term basis if you only temporarily need an item of uniform, for example, if you have washed uniform and are having difficulty drying. Please contact Pupil Support for more information.

Family Hub

Contact your local Family Hub to get help accessing all the support you might need as a family. Find your local hub here Family Wellbeing Centres (sefton.gov.uk)

Check you’re paying the right amount of tax

Make sure you’re on the right tax code. If you aren’t you might be due a refund. Use the Money Saving Expert’s free tax code calculator to find out.

Claim any benefits you’re entitled to

Use 1 of these benefits calculators to determine whether there are any benefits you could be claiming:

Turn2us

Policy in Practice

Support for migrant families – use this calculator if you are a migrant family, or if you have no recourse to public funds (meaning you’re not entitled to the majority of welfare benefits)

You may be able to get benefits paid early if you need cash urgently – this is known as ‘a short-term benefit advance’. You will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) office at [insert contact details of the local DWP office] that’s dealing with your claim.

Check you’ve received all the government’s cost-of-living payments

The government’s cost-of-living payments are available for those receiving certain benefits or tax credits. You don’t need to apply for these – if you’re eligible the money should go straight into your account.

If you think you’re due a payment but haven’t received one, report a missing payment to the government here.

Be aware of scams! If you receive any emails, texts or phone calls asking you to fill in an application form or asking for your bank details to receive a cost-of-living payment, do not talk to them or send a reply. Get more information on cost-of-living scams on the Money Saving Expert’s website.

Find out what help you can get with your energy bills

Take a look at these resources from the British Gas Energy Trust and the Money Saving Expert.

Check if your child is entitled to free school meals (FSM)

If your child is eligible for FSM you need to get them registered. This will allow them to get a free meal at school, and we’ll get extra funding (known as the pupil premium) to support your child’s learning.

Go to this government website to check if your child is eligible.

S​efton Residents - Free school meals (sefton.gov.uk)

L​iverpool Residents - Free school meals - Liverpool City Council

See what other support you can get from your local authority

Get free or low-cost food

If you’re worried about not having enough food to feed your family, you’re not alone. There are
a number of places offering support.

• Hillside Breakfast Club is open from 8.00am every day providing free breakfast for any pupils. Last entry is 8.20am.
• If you have a child under 4, and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to healthy start food vouchers
• Food banks - South Sefton Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
• Use food waste apps and websites like Olio (for free food and household items from your local community), Too Good To Go (for low-cost food from local restaurants), or Low Price Foods (food that has passed its best before date, but is still safe to eat)
• Become a member of a community shop. These organisations sell food to their members at a reduced price. Some shops are free to join if you meet certain criteria, and others ask for a small contribution. I Find out if there’s one near you by checking these websites: Community Shop, Your Local Pantry, Community Grocery
• Get more tips on free and cheap meals from Which

Free hygiene products

Please contact pupil support f you would like free sanitary products

Food banks may offer free toiletries and sanitary products. Check with your local food bank to see what’s available [insert contact details for your local food banks here]

Find the cheapest disposable sanitary products on Sanitary Saver

Find a warm space to beat the chill

Some community spaces open their doors to provide a safe and warm space for a few hours. Many also offer hot drinks and wifi.

Insert contact details for warm spaces in your area, or add:

Find a warm bank on:

Sefton Warm Spaces | Sefton CVS

Warm Spaces

L​iverpool Residents

Liverpool Citizens Support Scheme

The Liverpool Citizens Support Scheme exists to help vulnerable people in short term crisis to meet the needs for food and essential items or to maintain your independence in the community.

Funding for the scheme is limited and we consider the total number of people applying and what funds are available when making a decision.

There is normally a limit of two awards within a 12 month period, beginning from the date the first award is made. If you complete a single application and, as a result, receive both a Home Needs and Urgent Needs Award, this will only count as one award.

Am I eligible for support?

You must be over 16, live in Liverpool or be moving to the area. You should be on a low income and in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Income Support.
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit only).
• Universal Credit.

AND you are either leaving care or require support to stay in the community or you don’t have enough money to meet your (or you family’s) immediate needs after an emergency or crisis.

What type of help is available?

Urgent Need Award

This covers food, essential items for children, essential clothing, fuel costs or help where you have suffered an emergency or crisis, for example, a fire or flood.

Home Needs Award

This covers furniture, new white goods, domestic appliances and essentials such as bedding and crockery to help maintain or establish a home. For example, you may be leaving care or prison, suffered a disaster (such as a fire or flood) or have had to move due to violence, fear of violence or other reasons.

We will try to provide all new items where possible, depending on the level of the award.

Home Needs Awards also support people who have moved as a consequence of benefit reductions associated with welfare reform (except where Discretionary Housing Payments are available to meet the need) or are otherwise at risk of losing their home as a result of welfare reform.

How do I apply?

You can apply Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm by calling 0800 456 1523 or 0151 233 3053. 0800 numbers are free of charge from landlines and mobiles.

The advisor will ask you to confirm your identity and address. If we need further information from you we will get in touch using the details you supply with your application.

How long will it take?

Whenever possible, decisions on Urgent Need Awards will be made within two working days and within 10 days for a Home Needs Award. Sometimes we will need to ask for more information and this may delay a decision.

Who to contact

Contact Name

Benefits Service

Telephone

0800 456 1523 or 0151 233 3053

E-mail

LCSS@liverpool.gov.uk

Website

liverpool.gov.uk