Cost of living support
The cost of living is rising, and it’s having an impact on many households across the borough.
Support is available to help residents manage their finance.
Cost of Living Payments
You may be able to get a payment from the Government to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.
You could get up to three different types of payment depending on your circumstances.
Find out more about Cost of Living Payments on the Government website.
Find out how you can access support from the council and other organisations:
The Derbyshire Discretionary Fund can provide grants or emergency cash payments for people who are in urgent need of financial help following a crisis or disaster.
The fund may be able to help during an emergency or crisis situation and to support people to continue to live independently or cope with exceptional pressure when they have no other source of funding.
It has been reported in the news that a number of customers with prepayment meters have not yet redeemed vouchers to assist them to pay their energy bills. Households should have begun to receive the first £400 instalment of the government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme from 1 October 2022.
If you are eligible for a voucher and have not redeemed it yet, the government is urging you to use the credit as soon as possible.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023.
The discount is automatic. If you get a message asking for your bank details, this could be a scam.
Find out more about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and who is eligible, on the Government website.
The Royal British Legion has launched a cost of living grants programme that is designed to assist people who need help in a quick and easy way with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs.
To qualify for this support, you need to have served / or currently be serving in The Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, or be a member of their immediate family.
Chesterfield Citizen’s Advice
Provides free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects. Including debt worries, benefits claims, housing and employment problems.
Free Advice Helpline call: 0808 278 7843
Derbyshire Law Centre
Provide free legal advice and assistance on all debt matters to the residents of Derbyshire.
Call: 01246 550674
Freephone: 0800 707 6990
Text: 07781 482826
Textphone for deaf people: 18001 01246 550674
Email: dlc@derbyshirelawcentre.org.uk
Derbyshire Discretionary Fund
Provides grants or emergency cash payments if you are in urgent need of financial help following a crisis or disaster.
Phone: 01629 533399
Household Support Fund
The household support fund (HSF) is available to help Derbyshire residents facing financial hardship over the coming months by providing grants and other financial support.
Phone: 01629 533399
Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Credit Union
Your local community bank, providing savings, loans and money management advice.
Call 01246 278833
Email: webmail@cnedcu.co.uk
CAP (Christians against poverty)
Providing free debt advice and counselling.
Phone: 0800 328 0006
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are extra payments that can help towards housing costs.
The payments are awarded at the discretion of the local authority and residents can only get it if they are entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
DHPs are available for those who are not receiving enough income to cover their rent; it can also be awarded for one-off costs such as a rent deposit or removal costs to move into a new home.
As the local authority, we administer the DHP scheme for Chesterfield residents.
The Council Tax Support Scheme is a local scheme that provides support to people on low income by reducing the amount of Council Tax they are liable to pay. In addition, the council also has a Discretionary Council Tax Scheme which supports those who are suffering exceptional hardship. The reduction is at the council’s discretion and is only granted in very exceptional circumstances.
Chesterfield Food Bank
Food Bank covering Chesterfield - referred through Job Centre Plus, Pathways, Citizens Advice, Probations, Derbyshire Recovery Partnership.
Call: 07984 589456
or Citizens Advice: 0808 278 7843
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Foodbank Centre
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Day
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Session Times
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Location / Address
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St Michael and All Angels Parish Hall
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Monday
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12 noon to 2pm
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Church Street, Brimington, S43 1JG
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African Caribbean Community Association
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Monday
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5pm to 6.30pm
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Unit 2, Penmore Business Centre, Hasland, S41 0SJ
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The Compass
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Tuesday
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1pm to 3pm
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West Bars, Town Centre, S40 1AZ
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The Saints Parish Centre Café
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Wednesday
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12 noon to 2pm
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3 St Mary's Gate, Chesterfield S41 7TD
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St Barnabas Church
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Thursday
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12 noon to 2pm
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Albert Road, New Whittington S43 2BH
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Loundsley Green Community Centre
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Friday
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1pm to 3pm
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Cuttholme Road, S40 4QU
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Holme Hall Unite / Holme Hall Hub
Ad-hoc requests for food bags.
Phone: 07907 484835
Gussie’s Kitchen
Food Parcel scheme covering the South areas of Chesterfield.
Phone: 07956 253119
Rural Action Derbyshire
Visit the website for more information on foodbanks.
Chesterfield Borough Council Tenancy Support
We work with our tenants to provide support that will help you keep your home, including dealing with debt created through rent arrears.
Call: 01246 345068
Text: 07960 910264
Email: tenancy.sustainment.referrals@chesterfield.gov.uk
Tenancy management: 01246 345071
Tenancy Sustainment: 01246 345345
Chesterfield Borough Council Homelessness Prevention Team
We can offer help to prevent and relieve homelessness.
Call: 01246 345825
Out of hours call: 0808 169 2333
Chesterfield Borough Council Housing
Our housing team can help find you council housing, repair your council housing and support you with rent arrears.
Call: 01246 345345
Text: 07960 910264
Repairs Hotline: 0800 587 5659
Pathways of Chesterfield
Providing housing support and benefits advice in order to prevent homelessness and eradicate rough sleeping.
Call: 01246 498204
If you are rough sleeping or you are a member of the public who is concerned about a rough sleeper you can refer them.
Call: 0808 196 8199
Derbyshire Law Centre
Provide free legal advice and assistance on all debt matters, housing and employment to the residents of Derbyshire.
Call 01246 550674 / Freephone 0800 707 6990 Text: 07781 482826
Textphone for deaf people: 18001 01246 550674
Email: dlc@derbyshirelawcentre.org.uk
Severn Trent’s Big Difference scheme can offer a reduction of water bills to any of their customers with a household income below £18,278.
Households with child dependants may be eligible for an additional income allowance in excess of this amount.
Learn more about the Big Difference scheme on the Severn Trent website.
If you’re over State Pension age and on a low income, you could benefit from Pension Credit - find out more on the Government website.
Marches Energy Advice
Provides home energy advice, including advice on available grants, tariffs and on debts, for Derbyshire residents.
Call: 0800 677 1332
Email: wdd@mea.org.uk
Chesterfield Citizen’s Advice
Provides free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects. Including debt worries, benefits claims, housing and employment problems.
Free Advice Helpline call: 0808 278 7843
Job Centre Plus
Provides resources to enable job-searchers to find work, can help identify training programmes and employment benefits.
Job Centre Plus: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 023 4888
Universal Credit helpline: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Derbyshire Disability Employment Service
Supporting disabled people to find training, work experience, voluntary work and paid employment.
Call: 01629 532440
Email: disabilityemploymentservice@derbyshire.gov.uk
Derbyshire Law Centre
Provide free legal advice and assistance on all debt matters, housing and employment to the residents of Derbyshire.
Call: 01246 550674
Freephone: 0800 707 6990
Text: 07781 482826
Textphone for deaf people: 18001 01246 550674
Email: dlc@derbyshirelawcentre.org.uk
Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre
Provides free, independent and confidential advice on benefit and credit entitlements. Can also support the completion of application forms and can help challenge decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions, right through to tribunal if necessary.
Call: 01246 231441
Email: info@duwc.org.uk
Derbyshire County Council Libraries
Provides free online courses around digital skills. You can also book the use of a library computer.
Call: 01629 533444
Email: ask.library@derbyshire.gov.uk
Derbyshire National Careers Service
Provides free and impartial information, advice and guidance about career opportunities, learning and employment to any Derbyshire residents aged 19 years and over and to those aged 18 who are not currently in education, employment or training.
Currently running an in-person access session at Chesterfield Library on Tuesday mornings. Wendy Leigh is the advisor for Chesterfield and Staveley.
Call: 07717 303855
Email: wendy.leigh@derbyshire.gov.uk
The Elm Foundation
A safe, welcoming, supportive place for any man, woman or child affected by domestic abuse. Providing the advice, support and tools you may need to change your situation; where you will feel empowered to take back control of your life.
Call: 0800 019 8668
If it's an emergency, call 999.
Text: 07534 617252
Email: derbyshiredahelpline@theelmfoundation.org.uk
Winter is on its way and, along with the Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership and a range of local statutory and voluntary partner organisations, we want to support our communities in keeping warm and in good health over the colder months.
Working with partner agencies, anyone living in our borough can now visit a range of ‘warm spaces’ around Chesterfield where you can meet other people in a free, warm and welcoming environment.
Many of the venues are offering refreshments, as well as a few other activities (depending on the venue) that you could join in with if you wanted to as well.
Each of the spaces are free to attend (with a small selection of paid activities) and everyone is welcome to drop in.
Find warm space venues on Google Maps.
