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Cost-of-living support

Struggling to pay your bills? Need help with the cost of food? Unsure which benefits you are entitled to?

Reaching out for help can sometimes feel difficult, but it doesn’t need to be. We are here to help with the cost-of-living. 

Simply click on the topics below to access support.

I need help with:

  • If you are struggling to pay your rent, please let us know as soon as possible. 

    You can do so by emailing us via contactus@pinecourt-housing.co.uk or calling us via 0151 709 6878.

    You may be eligible to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if you are unable to meet housing costs from your available income and are in receipt of Housing Benefits or Universal Credit. To apply for a DHP, please visit our local support services section below. 

  • It is important to ensure you are receiving all of the benefits that you are entitled to. 

    If you are unsure on what you can access, please contact us by emailing contactus@pinecourt-housing.co.uk or calling us via 0151 709 6878.

  • Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible to apply for a council tax reduction or discount. 

    You should contact your council to see what support is available. Please visit our local support services section below for more information.

  • If you are worried about keeping warm or paying your utility bills, you should contact your supplier as they may be able to help with debt and manageable repayment plans.

    You could also be eligible to get help through: 

    You can also get advice from:

    • National Energy Action, available Monday to Friday on 0800 304 7159 between 10am and 2.30pm.
    • Energy Advice Freephone Line, available Monday to Friday on 0800 043 0151 between 9am and 5pm.

  • If you are worried about paying for wifi, TV and/or phone bills, you should contact your supplier(s) as they may be able to help by:

    • Moving your bill date
    • Moving you to a different tariff  
    • Setting up manageable repayment plans

    You could also be eligible to get help through:

    • A low-cost plan if you receive benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. 
    • Six months of free wifi with TalkTalk if you are a jobseeker. Simply contact your local centre to learn more. 

    If you plan to change to a new supplier, be sure to check whether your current contract has a cancellation fee before switching. 

    You can also get advice from Money Helper, who provide free support and advice around debts online, by phone or face-to-face. 

  • For information on how to access food banks near you, please click on your area below to see what support is available. 

    To find a food bank near you;

    Your children may also be eligible for free school meals. Please visit the Government’s website to see eligibility criteria.

  • If you need support with school uniforms, there are some ways you may be able to get help:

    • Speak to the school – they may have lost property or donated uniforms they can allocate to you and may be able to issue a uniform grant in some cases.
    • Check social media – local Facebook groups are a great resource to find uniforms from people in your community.
    • Explore local charity shops – you may find uniforms for a discounted price.
    • Ask your council for support – your local council may be able to help with uniforms.

    There are also a range of organisations in your local area that may be able to help – please visit our local support services section below for more information. 

  • If you are worried about keeping warm this winter, please visit our local support services section below for more information.

  • You should talk to your GP if the cost-of-living is affecting your mental health. 

    Need emergency help? 

    • You can find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline on the NHS website. 
    • Call the Samaritans on their free helpline: 116 123 (available any time, Monday to Sunday).
    • Text “SHOUT” to 85258 for free from all major UK mobile networks to be connected to a volunteer for an anonymous conversation. This free, confidential, text messaging mental health support service is run by a charity called Mental Health Innovations (available any time, Monday to Sunday).

Looking for local support services?

Simply click on the area you live in below to explore support available to you.

Need to speak to someone at Pine Court Housing Association?

Need to speak to someone at Pine Court Housing Association?

Don’t suffer in silence, we are here to help you.

Get in touch today to speak to our friendly Bilingual Housing Assistants.

Please note this service is available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays and Christmas shut down).

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