Advice and support with money

If you have any questions about your application, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk. Please include your phone number in your email so we can complete the application with you.

For more information on this scheme, please visit Cambridgeshire County Council's household support fund page.

Cost of Living Support Campaign

Find out about the different government schemes that are available to help with the cost of living. 

Council Tax and Benefits

• Our benefits calculator will help you check the benefits you may be entitled to, including: Universal Credit, Disability and Carers' benefits, Pension credit, and Working from Home Allowance.
• If you are on a low income and struggling to meet Council Tax payments, you may be eligible for Council Tax support.
• If you are already claiming certain benefits, you may be entitled to a Discretionary Housing Payment, which can provide further financial help. 
• You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you have been on certain benefits for 6 months. You will have to pay back the amount you borrow (repayments are taken automatically from your benefits). 
• If you’re on Universal Credit you may be eligible for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card for up to 50% off.

Income and budgeting

• You can check the National Minimum Wage calculator to see if you’re being paid the right amount. If you believe you are not being paid the right amount, or your deductions are incorrect, you can seek support from Citizens Advice to correct this.
• Our Welfare and Money Maximisation Officer supports people in crisis or distress. They can signpost help on the best deals, and offer advice on grants. You can contact them by completing a Financial support referral form
• The cost of living survival guide (including saving money and budgeting tips) is available from MoneySavingExpert.. 
• To help you to sort your bills/payments into the right order and advise on what you need to do if you’re struggling to pay (before you miss a payment) you can use the Government bill prioritiser tool.
• You can visit the government’s MoneyHelper website for help living on a restricted income.
• The government also have a Money Navigator Tool, that will help you work out what issues to deal with first and ways of staying on top of your bills.

Help for parents and families

• Visit the Government’s childcare webpage for information on tax-free childcare, Child Benefit and a one-off payment of £500 to help with maternity costs.
• The highly successful holiday voucher scheme currently operating in Cambridgeshire has been extended until the end of March 2024.
• The Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme offers holiday scheme places for free during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays, to eligible children.
• Regular food and milk vouchers can be provided by Healthy Start to help buy fruit, vegetables and milk for those who are pregnant or have a child under four.
• If you are in receipt of certain benefits, your child may be entitled to free school meals. This scheme is available for school-age children and to post-16 students at a school with a sixth form or college.
• Secondary school children who are entitled to free school meals might also qualify for help with school transport costs. 
• Kids eat free in Morrisons cafes all day, everyday, when an adult meal is bought for £4.99 or over.
• You could save up to a third on train journeys with a railcard.
• Try local free or recycling websites to purchase low cost items. Some examples in Cambridge include: Cambridge Reuse and Emmaus Cambridge.