Cost of Living Support

The following details may help you get support with rising energy prices

National and local government are providing support to many vulnerable households in response to rising energy costs.  Support is already available for households in receipt of benefits, pensioners, vulnerable families and others.

Dartford Larder

Dartford Larder is a community-focused initiative designed to provide practical support for individuals and families facing financial hardship. We are more than just a food bank, we are a welcoming, supermarket-style space where those in need can access essential groceries at significantly reduced costs.

Supported by Dartford Borough Council in partnership with Crossways Community Church, New Avenues, and The Healthy Living Centre, Dartford Larder is committed to restoring dignity and empowering people to take control of their circumstances.

Alongside providing food, we offer a range of cooking classes, financial guidance, and connections to local organisations that can help with employment, housing, and wellbeing. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where everyone—whether working but struggling, on benefits, or facing temporary difficulties—can find the help they need.

We believe in building a stronger, more resilient community—one where no one has to face hardship alone. Dartford Larder is here to help, bringing practical solutions, education, and encouragement to those who need it most.

Household Support Fund

Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government, the Household Support Fund scheme supports vulnerable Kent households in need of help with significantly rising living costs.  Each district council in Kent has been allocated funding under the Household Support Fund.  Here in Dartford, our Delivery Plan for our allocation of the Household Support Fund seeks to help with Food Insecurity through initiatives such as Dartford Larder, Foodbanks, Energy Efficiency initiatives,  and later in Phase 2 during the winter, by supporting Warm Hubs

Dartford residents are also eligible to apply directly to KCC’s application-based scheme which opened on June 24th. The summer food voucher scheme, worth £90 to eligible households, will stay open until the end of August (the scheme may close earlier if all available funds are allocated). You can either refer yourself to the scheme or refer someone as a professional. The summer scheme will only offer support with food. A winter scheme will follow later in the year offering a choice between energy and food, or a combination of both energy and food support.

Funded by UK Government

 

Household Support Fund - Kent County Council

Household Support Fund 7 Summer Food Voucher Scheme

Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government, the Household Support Fund scheme supports vulnerable Kent households in need of help with significantly rising living costs.

HSF (Household Support Fund) Round 6 has now ended, and the Government has announced in the recent budget, a further 12-month extension to the HSF, meaning the HSF funding round 7 will run from April 2025 until March 2026.

The next HSF support scheme will be delivered from June to August and will offer an online public application route that enables individual self-referral, or professional referrals on behalf of individuals, to be made.

The summer scheme will offer food voucher only support, to the value of £90, a winter scheme will follow later in the year and applicants will then have the additional option to choose between energy, food, or a combination of both energy and food support.

The Summer Food support scheme is open for applications and will close at 12pm on Tuesday, August 26. Please note it may close earlier if all the available HSF funds are allocated, therefore early application is strongly advised.

Evouchers.com will again be our online voucher supplier for this scheme any help your applicants may need to redeem the food vouchers can be found on their helpdesk webpages:

https://help.evouchers.com/hc/en-gb

https://help.evouchers.com/hc/en-gb/categories/11256166939409-I-m-a-recipient

Pension Credit 

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you're over state pension age and on a low income. 

You might get extra help if you’re a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person.

Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.

You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.

Check if you're eligible for Pension Credit.

If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:

Warm Banks

If you are struggling to heat your home this winter, please find a directory of local warm banks / spaces to find warmth, community and help.

Energy Workshops

In 2024, Digital Kent partnered with UKPN and SGN to deliver Digital & Energy Support.

They are delivering energy and digital support sessions virtually across the county to enable residents to access digital technology to manage their energy and become more digitally included.

Sign up to Dartford's energy workshops.

Big Community Switch

During these difficult and challenging times it’s even more important to save money on your energy bill.

Kent Energy Deal had been in operation since collective switching began in the UK in 2013.  Kent Energy Deal was a partnership between several Kent Councils and IChoosr to help residents save money on their energy bills by using combined buying power to access highly competitive tariffs.  Kent Energy Deal helped many people living in the Dartford Borough and other partner Kent Local Authorities who also ran the scheme to switch to a better tariff therefore saving money on their resident’s utility bills and frequently the tariff offered was a renewable electricity tariff too.  The scheme was just one of the many offered to help residents and support the Council in its carbon reduction ambitions. 

Due to the Energy crisis and the Price Caps the switching market in its entirety has been at a standstill, however IChoosr have continued to monitor the situation and talked with suppliers to stay aware of any price/market changes.

IChoosr now believe the time is right to offer the option of the Big Community Switch again and are offering the opportunity for residents to register on line to help residents save money on their energy bills by using combined buying power to access highly competitive tariffs.  This means residents can benefit from the bargaining power of a large group.

Dartford Borough Council has formed a partnership with IChoosr to offer this service – participation is completely free with no obligation to switch. 

You can register today through the Big Community Switch's Dartford webpage.

Housing costs

If you are a Council tenant, a tenant in the private sector or you have a mortgage, it’s important that you talk to your landlord or lender at the earliest opportunity if you think you will have difficulty paying your rent or mortgage.

You may be entitled to the following to help you with your housing costs:

Discretionary Housing Payments

Discretionary Housing Payments apply to both Council and private sector tenants. These can provide extra money to help with your housing costs on top of any benefit support you may already be receiving. To get a Discretionary Housing Payment, you will need to either already be receiving the old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing contribution element through Universal Credit. Access the Discretionary Housing Payment webpage for further details.

Council Tax Reduction

Council Tax Reduction may be available of your household is on a low income. You could receive support towards some or all of your Council Tax bill.

Household Bills

Help with your utility bills

Most utility companies offer help if you are struggling with your bills, including payment plans. Most water companies also offer discounts for households on low incomes. Please speak to your provider to find out more.

Find if you're eligible for support from Southern Water.

Visit Thames Water's financial support page.

Warm Home Scheme

The Government 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. 

Broadband and phone

If you are looking for ways to cut back on your spending, you could be eligible for cheaper broadband deals with social tariffs. Social tariffs for broadband are discounted deals offered by various broadband providers to support households on low income or in financial hardship.

Free School Meals

If your child is in Year 2 or below, they can get free school meals. Please speak to your school for more details.

If your child is below 19 years of age and in full-time education, they may be eligible for free school meals. Please refer to www.kent.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals for more details.

See the list of Dartford's food banks.

Clear your energy debts

British Gas Energy Trust is accepting applications for individuals and families funding, regardless of their energy provider.

The Individuals and Families Fund is intended to tackle fuel poverty by clearing the energy debts of struggling households and respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Grants to cover arrears of up to £1,500 will be credited to the energy account of eligible households.

Applicants must:

  • Live in England, Scotland or Wales.
  • Not have received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.
  • Be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in their name or be a member of that household. The energy account must relate to a main residence.
  • Be facing fuel poverty.
  • Have received help from a money advice agency.

The fund is available to BG and Non-BG customers with debt on a credit energy account or those on a pre-payment meter. Please note that suppliers with their own support fund are excluded from this fund: Boost, Eon, Eon Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Ovo, Octopus, SSE and Utilita.

The Fund is expected to close at the end of March 2024 (unless all the funding is allocated sooner).

Grants Available - British Gas Energy Trust

Kent Advice Hub

The Kent Advice Hub is a free, confidential, independent, and impartial video advice service by Citizens Advice. It is part-funded by Kent County Council.

Citizens Advice can advise and support you on various issues, including energy, benefits, money and debt, housing, immigration issues, and more.

If you need advice on a problem you are facing, the Kent Advice Hub can help.You can make a video call by using a kiosk (tablet) in community places across Kent. Your local kiosks in Dartford are at: 

  • Dartford Civic Centre, Home Gardens, Dartford, DA1 1DR between Monday to Friday from 9am to 3:30pm
  • Old Fire Station Café, Church Road, Swanscombe, DA10 0HF between Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm
  • St Edmunds Church Living Well, St Edmunds Road, Temple Hill, Dartford, DA1 5ND on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 9am to 2pm
  • St Albans C of E Church, 67 St Albans Road, Dartford, DA1 1TE on Tuesdays from 9am to 12pm

Someone will be available to help you make the video call if you need assistance.

You can also make a video call on your digital device from home by visiting www.kentadvicehub.com from Monday – Friday between 9am to 5pm

The service operates as a drop-in, so no appointment is needed. During the video call, you will be able to see and speak with a Citizens Advice adviser.

Help with your TV Licence

The Simple Payment Plan has been created to help those in financial difficulty.

Qualifying customers can choose from either a fortnightly or monthly payment plan that spreads the cost of a TV Licence over 12 months, this means you make smaller payments more frequently, helping you to better manage your finances.

TV Licensing accepts referrals to the Simple Payment Plan from not-for-profit organisations such as charities or your local authority money advice department. It cannot accept referrals from commercial organisations.

If you would like to speak to someone about your finances, you can contact your local authority debt advice team or there are many not-for-profit organisations offering free, confidential and independent advice. Any not-for-profit organisation providing this service can refer you to us to join the Simple Payment Plan. More information on the simple payment plan and how to access it can be found here.

There are other TV licence concessions, which you might be eligible for depending on your circumstances. There are concessions available for: