COST OF LIVING
Latest Updates
Updated 15th Nov 2023
All benefits will rise 10.1% in April 2023
Cost of Living Payments for those on benefits will be £900 in 2023 (expected Sept or Oct2023)
Disabilities payment £150 in 2023
Social Tariff system in April 2024
Minimum Wages going up to £10.42 per hour (over 24 years) in April 2023
Energy price cap will last until March 2024
Energy price guarantee will go up 20% in April 2023
Change in support for paying the interest in mortgage, if you you’ve been out of work for 3 months
Social Housing, cap on the rent increase is 7%
Tax thresholds have been frozen
Reduced the threshold for higher earners for £125,000
Next Cost of Living Payment is 8th-23rd November 2023 for those on qualifying benefits for £324
Parents' tips on supporting children's wellbeing in the cost-of-living crisis by Young Minds
Cost of Living and SPW
The National Lottery Community Fund have awarded us a small pot of money to add on to our current projects as a response to the cost of living crisis. Therefore we are:
Creating a discount card for single parents, including contacting all nationwide family friendly places to try and get a discount for single parents using the card.
Increasing in the amount of mileage and transport costs that we can cover for volunteers and for parents attending the Wellbeing Workshops.
Offering snacks and food at all workshops and events that we run from our HQ in Cardiff. Including toast and snacks at our Creative Clubs and any other events aswell.
If you want to hear more about any of this, or would like to get involved then please get in touch.
Official Children in Need Emergency Essentials Referrer
Single parents facing exceptionally difficult circumstances or who are also in crisis; are living in severe poverty and suffering deprivation as a result
Get in touch to apply.
Useful Websites and Information
+ Food Banks and Community Fridges
Your Local Pantry- Dusty Forge, Ely Cardiff- £5 for 10 items
Cwtch up Voluntary Foodbank- Cardiff- 1 parcel a month in receipt of benefits
Feed Newport- Food Bank- Newport- Needs a referral via feednewport@gmail.com
Fair Share- Cardiff- Refer via member organisations
RCV UK- Risca and RCT- Tin on the wall scheme
Refurbs Flint- Flinshire- Open to everyone, no referral needed
HWB Cemaes- Ynys Mon- One-off fee of £5, everyone
Crest Cooperative- FoodShare scheme- Llandudno Junction- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Given to Shine- Community Fridge- Wrexham Town Centre- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Caia Park Partnership- Community Fridge- Caia, Wrexham Open to everyone, no referral needed
Cultivate- Community Fridge- Newtown- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Llanrumney Town Hall- Community Fridge- Cardiff- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Pontardulais High Street Hub- Community Fridge- Rhondda- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Rhuthun Town Hall- Community Fridge- Denbighshire- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Manidee Unltd- Community Fridge- Newport- Open to everyone, no referral needed
ACE- Community Shop and Clothes- Ely, Cardiff- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Our Community Fridge- Community Fridge- Caer, Cardiff- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Graig-y-Rhacca Community Fridge- Caerphilly - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Grub Hub- Community Fridge- Tonypandy, RCT - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Caerau Development Trust Fridge Community Fridge- Maesteg - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Crynant Community Fridge- Community Fridge- Crynant, Neath - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Swansea Community Fridge- Swansea - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Stebonheath Community Bridge- Community Fridge- Llanelli - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Kidwelly Community Fridge - Kidwelly - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Tenby Community Fridge - Tenby - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Narbeth Community Fridge - Narbeth- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Haverfordwest Community Fridge- Haverfordwest- Open to everyone, no referral needed
The Fishguard & Goodwick Community Fridge- Fishguard- Open to everyone, no referral needed
Area 43 Community Fridge- 1 Pontycleifion, Cardigan - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Heart of the Community Fridge- Cardigan - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Aber Food Surplus- Aberystwyth - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Ysgol Trefonnen Community Fridge- Powys - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Llanidloes Community Fridge- Llanidloes - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Cultivate Community Fridge - Newtown - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Parkfields Community Fridge - Mold - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Buckley Community Fridge - Buckley, Mold - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Monmouth Community Pantry - Monmouth - Open to everyone, no referral needed
FAM Fridge- Community Fridge - Newport - Open to everyone, no referral needed
Wild Thing- Community Fridge - Cardiff - Open to everyone, no referral needed
+ School Costs
School Essentials- You could be entitled to support of up to £300
Find out about Universal free school meals for primary school age in Wales
Free Breakfast Club- Your child or children may be entitled to receive free breakfast, if the primary school they go to is maintained by the local authority and if it provides free breakfasts. You need to ask the school for free breakfasts for your child to receive them. Find out about Universal free school meals for primary school age in Wales
+ Fuel
Eligible households can claim a one off £200 cash payment from their local authority
All domestic energy customers in Great Britain will receive a £400 grant to help with the cost of their energy bills through the Energy Bill Support Scheme. This money will not need to be paid back. £650 Cost of Living payment for those on benefits £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
Household Support Fund- Help households who are not eligible for other kinds of help or need further support.
The Warm Homes Discount- 2.2 million low-income households receive a £140 rebate on their energy bills.
Cold Weather Payments- £25 extra a week for poorer households when the temperature is zero or below.
+ Banks, Credit Cards and Loans
In May 2021, the UK Government introduced a Debt Respite Scheme, usually referred to as Breathing Space, to give people struggling with their debts the time they need to sort out their finances without creditors taking enforcement action or adding charges that increase their debts. To access Breathing Space you will need to talk to a professional debt advisor.
+ Housing
Mortgage Repayment Calculator- for those wanting to know about the cost of thier mortgage repayments
Mortgage Mum- Provides easily understandable info on the latest changes in mortgages
+ Other Useful Websites Websites and Apps
Vinted- Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories
To Good To Go- To make sure good food gets eaten, not wasted.
Olio- to reduce food waste and build food sharing
Make do and mend at a Repair Café