Help with the cost of living
You've probably noticed many of your bills going up, in particular the cost of energy. This page contains information on various assistance that may be available to help you stay on top of increasing costs.
Welfare benefits and entitlements – could you be missing out?
The Welsh Government's Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)
Ofgem Price Cap on energy bills
Importance of meter readings if you don't have a smart meter
If an energy supplier goes out of business
Can I get support from my energy supplier?
Welfare benefits and entitlements – could you be missing out?
If you want to know more, see the benefits and entitlements section of our website, or use our online benefits calculator. A benefit check can help you find out if you're likely to qualify. We have a number of guides covering benefit topics, including our More money in your pocket information guide.
If you're not currently claiming any benefits, it could be worth putting in a claim as soon as possible – for example, claiming Pension Credit (even if you’re only entitled to a small amount) can help you qualify for other benefits, entitlements and government help.
There are also some benefits specifically to help with bills in the winter, such as the Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Discount.
You can contact Age Cymru Advice for further information. Call 0300 303 44 98 (charged at local rate) to talk to someone or email us at advice@agecymru.org.uk
The Welsh Government's Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)
The Welsh Government's DAF scheme has been in operation for a number of years already and pre-dates the current cost of living pressures; however, the scheme may be able to help in regard to some of these issues. Our 'How to get help with urgent or one-off expenses' page has further information on the DAF.
Ofgem Price Cap on energy bills
The price cap applies to most households in Britain. It is a maximum amount that suppliers can charge per unit of energy.
Between 1 April 2024 and 30 June 2024, for 'typical' dual-fuel households paying by direct debit, Ofgem has set the annual price cap level at £1,690 (this is a reduction from the previous cap in place between January and March 2024 of £1,928).
It's important to note that bills are still based on your actual usage, so you may pay more or less than the price cap level.
Find out more about the energy price cap on the Ofgem website
Importance of meter readings if you don't have a smart meter
If you don't have a smart meter, it's a good idea to provide your supplier with meter readings for gas and electric on a regular basis and particularly so when changes in prices are announced (for example, if Ofgem have announced a price cap increase or decrease).
This will ensure that the supplier knows exactly how much you used when the price changes, so that you're not charged too much for certain units used.
Food banks and vouchers
The Trussell Trust supports a network of food banks and provides emergency food. People need to be referred to a food bank with a voucher, which can be issued by a number of local community organisations.
If an energy supplier goes out of business
When an energy supplier goes bust, Ofgem assigns a new supplier to take over your account. You don't need to worry, your gas and electricity supply will continue regardless of what happens to your supplier. Your new supplier should provide you with information about what is happening with your account, though this process can take a few weeks. It's worth keeping hold of or downloading copies of your latest energy bills and take photos of your latest meter readings for reference. Any customers that were in debt with their previous supplier will still have to repay this and any customers who had been in credit with their supplier should receive a refund. You should seek advice if you're looking to switch because your supplier has gone bust, as there are considerations if your account was in credit, or if you usually receive the Warm Home Discount.
If you're finding it difficult to keep up with energy bills or you owe money to your energy supplier, your supplier has a duty to help. You can ask them for:
- a review of your payments or debt repayments
- payment breaks or reductions
- more time to pay your bills
- access to hardship funds / charitable funds of the energy supplier
- Priority Service registration.
If you're over State Pension age or live with a disability or health condition you can ask to be placed on the Priority Service Register. This gives you access to a range of support, including priority assistance in an emergency, advance notice of planned power cuts and help with prepayment meter access.
As indicated above, some energy suppliers have their own special funding schemes (hardship or charitable funds) or provide support through national schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation. These provide a range of financial support, debt relief, energy advice, and the installation of energy efficiency improvements which can help lower your bills. Check with your supplier to see what support you might be entitled to.
Switching energy supplier
Switching energy supplier or tariff has previously been an easy way to save money on bills. However, the current rise in energy prices means there are fewer deals on offer than usual. It might be difficult to find a cheaper deal than your current tariff, or one you can easily switch to. Opting for a fixed-price tariff gives more certainty over bills but, depending on the market, may increase your costs overall.
You should always seek impartial advice before switching, for example from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline. Further details can also be found in our factsheet on getting the best energy deal (you can access this in the 'further information' section below).
Further information
Our following factsheets and guides may be helpful to you on some of the subjects covered on this page:
Factsheet 1w: Help with heating costs in Wales
Factsheet 82: Getting the best energy deal