Financial help and benefits
If you or someone you are supporting is struggling financially, there are funds and grants in place you can apply for.
The information below can help you find the best advice and support you need. Follow the links to find out more.
Essential Living Fund
If you are struggling to heat your home or put food on the table, there is support available. The council’s Essential Living Fund, paid for from the Government’s Household Support Fund, is available to anyone living in Thurrock who is really struggling. You can apply for a one-off payment to help pay for energy, food or other basic necessities.
Ask for financial help from the council’s Essential Living Fund
Discretionary Housing Payment
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is an extra payment to help you pay your rent and other housing costs. It is not a benefit payment, but a separate payment on top of housing benefit.
Get help with your housing costs
Council Tax Support
If you are on a low income you might be able to get money off your council tax bills if you are struggling. To find out if you might be entitled to Council Tax Support visit our website
Get help with your council tax
Support for pensioners
Any residents who are above State Pension Age and are on a low income should apply for Pension Credit, which can unlock thousands of pounds of extra support for individuals and couples.
Apply for pension credit, which could be worth over £1000
If you have been turned down for Pension Credit, but are eligible for other benefits and are worried about the cost of heating your home, you can sign up for Thurrock’s Pensioner Winter Support Fund. We have set aside £100,000 from our Government’s Household Support Fund allocation, to help older residents who are struggling to heat their homes.
If you need help, apply today for a one-off support payment (administered by Southend Council on behalf of Thurrock Council)
Other help and advice
Help from Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice has plenty of guidance to help you find the best support available with
your utility bills.
Energy - citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply
Water - citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water
Help through Hardship
Citizens Advice has also teamed up with the Trussell Trust to create the 'Help through Hardship' helpline. If you are struggling to afford essential their advisers can help you make sure you get the social security payments you’re entitled to, guide you through any claims, and help you with emergency issues.
trussell.org.uk/help-through-hardship-helpline
Help with water bills
Both Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water offer support and lower bills to households on low income. To get extra help with water bills click the links below.
anglianwater.co.uk/help-and-advice
Essex and Suffolk Water also provide free water saving kits and water saving advice.
Help with phone and broadband
National Databank is a scheme which provides free mobile SIM cards for people who can’t access the internet. You can sign-up for the scheme at Belhus library, Chadwell library, Corringham library, East Tilbury library, Grays library or Tilbury library.
thurrock.gov.uk/free-calls-and-data
Those eligible can get cheaper home phone and broadband packages thanks to Social tarriffs. They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price and are available to people on a variety of benefits, including Universal Credit.
ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/social-tariffs
