Cost of Living Newsletter Edition
Are you worried about how to cope with Cost Of Living increases?
We have a wide range of information and advice to help you in this special Citizens Advice Southwark Cost Of Living edition of our newsletter.
- Help if you are worried about your finances
Our Worrying About Money leaflet provides an online and user friendly and online way for people facing financial crisis to be aware of the options that exist and the sources of help that are available.
If you want paper copies of the leaflet please contact:
Administration@citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk
- Local sources of free or low cost food
Peckham Pantry – a membership scheme that will make your money go further. Members of Peckham Pantry pay £4.50 per shop, which gives access to fresh fruit and veg and store cupboard favourites – to the value of £15.
There are 2 Peckham Pantries at St. Luke’s Church, Chandler Way and 49-52 Peckham Park Road.
Borough Food Cooperative – a Food-Hub operating from the crypt of St. George the Martyr Church, Borough High Street, SE1 1JA. They charge £4.50 for each shop and work to make sure that you leave with a selection of groceries valuing between £20-£25.
Opening Hours: Tuesday 12:00 – 15:00; Thursday 10:00 – 13:30 (13:30 – 15:00 by appointment only); Saturday 13:00 – 15:30 (15:30 – 16:00 by appointment only)
Pecan Foodbank – various locations by referral
Spring Community Hub Foodbank – various locations by referral
- Are you missing out on Pension Credit?
We know that some people may not be getting Pension Credit when they might be eligible for it.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £182.60 a week for single pensioners or £278.70 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who:
- have reached Pension Credit qualifying age, which is State Pension age, and
- live in Great Britain
You may still get Pension Credit if you:
- have not paid National Insurance contributions
- have some savings or a small pension
- live with your grown-up family
- own your own home
Therefore, if you are of State Pension age you may be entitled to Pension Credit even if you have modest savings, or a retirement income or own your own home.
An award of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills and for those aged 75 or over, a free TV licence.
Please contact us if you need more advice on Pension Credit.
- Help if you need advice on benefits
Benefit checker online
Don’t forget that you might be entitled to Universal Credit – even if you are working part time.
Phone Citizens Advice for more information and help to make a claim on: 0800 144 8 444
- Help if you can’t afford your energy bills
Advice on what to do if you are struggling to pay your energy bills
Cost of living factsheet from the government
Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills
The Energy Saving Trust’s blog has some new energy advice posts which are available on their website:
- Five ways to futureproof your home against rising energy bills
- A guide to using electric storage heater controls
- How to control your central heating system
- How to understand your energy bill
- Southwark Emergency Support Scheme
Southwark Emergency Support Scheme (SESS) run by the Council can help if you’re a Southwark resident who is facing a crisis, emergency or disaster and needs help.
- Emergency Support
We normally provide goods or services rather than cash. For example, you might qualify for a food gift card or help with your energy bills. You can receive help if you visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/emergency-support
- Hardship Fund
This scheme is designed to help people in debt with household bills including: gas, electricity and water, rent and Council Tax arrears. www.southwark.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/hardship-fund
- Help to reduce your phone and internet bills
Clients on benefits might be able to save money by switching their broadband or landline to a social tariff. You can see the list of social tariffs on the Ofcom website. Ofcom also has help for clients to check if they are paying too much with advice on billing and switching
- Citizens Advice information on a wide range of issues
- help if you are on a low income and struggling to manage your money
- If you’re already in debt
- Check if you can get extra help or money
- Check what help you can get with your bills
- If you can’t pay your rent
- If you can’t pay your mortgage
- If you can’t pay your energy bills
- If you can’t pay your mobile, phone, internet or TV bill
- If you can’t pay your TV licence fee
- If you can’t pay your water bill
- If you can’t repay your benefit overpayment or budgeting loan
- If you can’t repay your credit card, store card or catalogue debts
- If you can’t repay a loan
- If you can’t pay for something you bought on finance
- If you’re thinking about borrowing money to pay your bills
- If you’re struggling to pay back your overdraft
- Overdrafts
Contact us for help
If you need advice, please visit us or call us.
Please note the hours of our drop in sessions at our Bermondsey and Walworth offices have changed.
If you want to visit us for help at:
- our Bermondsey office at 8 Market Place, Southwark Park Road, SE16 3UQ, you can drop in anytime between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- our Walworth office at 6-8 Westmoreland Road, Walworth, SE17 2AY, you can drop in anytime between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
- our Peckham office at 97 Peckham High Street, SE15 5RS, you can drop in anytime between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm 5 days per week
If you want to call us our Adviceline number is 080 8278 7849.
If you need help claiming Universal Credit please call on 0800 144 8 444
For online referrals, please go to our website:
https://www.citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk/advice/email-enquiry-form/
For webchat please visit here:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/webchat
For more information about our services see our website https://www.citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk/
Or see us on Twitter @SouthwarkCAB
Wishing you all the very best
All at Citizens Advice Southwark