Cost of living

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for children under 16 with a disability or health condition.  
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged 16+ who face extra challenges carrying out everyday activities or getting out and about. 

These benefits are also passports to other sorts of financial help. 

You can find plenty of DLA and PIP information and advice on our website to help you put together the best application you can, including downloadable fact sheets, or you could attend one of our free DLA and PIP workshops. 

In some cases we may be able to offer extra help with your application, for example if you have a disability or additional needs yourself, or speak English as an additional language. Call 01273 772289 or email Amaze’s SENDIASS service.

This is a fund to help people who are struggling with food, water, heating or lighting costs. It was created as a temporary fund to help people during the pandemic, initially due to end in March 2022, but it has been extended several times since then. 

You apply for this fund through your local council, but when each council’s allocation of funds runs out they will stop accepting applications, so don’t delay. For more information and eligibility criteria, visit the following websites: 

• Lewes and Eastbourne Household Support Fund 
• Hastings Household Support Fund 
• Rother Household Support Fund 
• Wealden Household Support Fund 
• Brighton & Hove Household Support Fund

The Family Fund gives grants to families across the UK who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person aged 17 or under. The grants can be used for things like family breaks, computers and tablets, clothing or household items. They focus on families on low incomes so you will need to be in receipt of benefits or tax credits (see full eligibility online). If you have already received a grant from the Family Fund, you can reapply after 24 months. 

They have also recently launched their Emergency Essentials fund, for children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances – please note, you must be referred by a professional to get support from this fund.

The charity Contact provides information on their website about different benefits you may be entitled to. 

They also have a benefits calculator you can use to check your entitlement.

This national disability charity offers advice and information through their Disability Energy Support advice line and can signpost and help with application forms. There is a form on their website to apply for help. If you have questions, call 0808 8010828 or email SCOPE 

National Energy Action is a national charity. They offer free impartial support and advice for vulnerable and low-income customers on energy bills and keeping warm and safe in your home, via their WASH advice service. 

The service can help with: 

• support with gas and electricity accounts including fuel debt  
• Warm Home Discount and Priority Service Register  
• switching suppliers & tariffs  
• energy efficiency and water rates  
• trust fund applications  
• benefits advice and income maximisation  

Contact the WASH Advice Service by calling 0800 304 7159, completing the WASH advice service referral form, or using the WASH webchat.

The Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) is a free advice service helping people keep warm and reduce their energy bills.  Advisors can:  

• fit a free energy saving kit in your home (such as lightbulbs and draught-proofing)  
• check if you are eligible for insulation or a new boiler  
• give practical advice on heating systems and saving energy  
• help with switching providers or tariffs 
• arrange a free money advice consultation to help with benefits, debt and other money problems  

To book a free energy advice phone call or home visit for yourself or someone else call free on 0800 060 7567, email LEAP, or fill out LEAP’s online application form.

Energise Sussex Coast is a community benefit co-operative, aiming to help residents in East Sussex to bring down the cost of electricity, gas and water bills and also to save energy and carbon. They offer an Energy Advice Service – book a free appointment by ringing or texting them on 01424 390 062 (local rates) or filling in the Energise referral form.

National Databank is like a food bank but for mobile data. They give away SIM cards preloaded with data to people aged 18+ who are from a low income household and meet one of these three criteria:

• no or insufficient access to the internet at home 
• no or insufficient access to the internet away from home 
• cannot afford existing monthly contract or pay as you go (PAYG) 

ou do not need proof and they have a stock of SIM cards from three different providers so they can match you to the best option.

The National Databank provides these SIM cards through their partner organisations throughout the UK. In Brighton, you can access the scheme through Jubilee Library – go to the main desk and say you are there for the databank scheme. In East Sussex, you can access the scheme through Tech Resort, who run drop-ins in Eastbourne, Bexhill, Newhaven and Seaford.