Alert Section

Cost of Living Hub

We want to make sure all Flintshire residents are aware of the financial help and household support available to them - click on the links below to find out more.

It is never too late to seek help and advice 


Logo Croeso Cynnes

Croeso Cynnes / Warm Welcome Project

Whether you are looking for things to do for you and the family or if you would just like a warm welcoming space to have a chat and refreshments, there are a number of locations across Flintshire who want to offer you a warm welcome during the winter months.

Find out more

Categories

Click a button to skip to the relevant area


Cost of Living

Discretionary Housing Payment

If you are responsible for paying rent in Flintshire and you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with some or all of your rent.

On this page:

  • Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
  • Discretionary Housing Payment

Find out more

Information about school meals, school holidays and other school essentials

There have been a number of communications over recent weeks about school meals and other school essentials, and as the term draws to a close it may be useful to have this information all in one place.

Find out more


Benefits

Benefits Calculator

You can use an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculator to check what you could be entitled to.

How much you get depends on your income and circumstances. Use the government’s benefits calculator (external link) to check what financial help you could be entitled to.

Use the government’s benefits calculator

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.

Find out more

Council Tax Reduction

If you are responsible for paying Council Tax in Flintshire and you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with some or all of your Council Tax bill.

Find out more

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

Find out more

Free School Meals (eFSM) and School Essentials Grant

Some families who meet certain criteria, for example those on lower incomes or in receipt of certain benefits, are entitled to receive a free school meal (eFSM).

On this page:

  • Free School Meals (eFSM)
  • School Essentials Grant (PDG)

Find out more

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

You can apply for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to help you when you’re looking for work.

Find out more

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment can help with extra living costs if you have both:

  • a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
  • difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.

Find out more

Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

Find out more

Universal Credit

Universal Credit provides financial support for low-income households and it replaces the following benefits; Housing Benefit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Find out more


Children and Schools

Education Maintenance Allowance

You may be eligible to receive a £30 weekly EMA award if:

  • you are above the compulsory school age
  • you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 years old on or before the 31 August
  • you normally live in Wales
  • you are studying an eligible full-time academic or vocational course

Find out more

Childcare Offer for Wales - 3 to 4 year old (30 hours)

The Childcare Offer provides 30 hours of government funded Early Education and childcare to the working parents of 3 to 4 year olds across Wales for 48 weeks per year.

Find out more

Free School Meals (eFSM) and Uniform Grants

Some families who meet certain criteria, for example those on lower incomes or in receipt of certain benefits, are entitled to receive a free school meal (eFSM).

On this page:

  • Free School Meals (eFSM)
  • Uniform Grant (Pupil Development Grant)

Find out more

Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. 

Eligible pregnant women and families can also receive free vitamins through the Healthy Start scheme.

Find out more

Tax-Free Childcare

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding families to not miss out on up to £2,000 a year towards their child’s wraparound care.

Find out more

Real Nappy Scheme

If you live in Denbighshire or Flintshire and your child is aged between 0 and 18 months old, you may be entitled to vouchers worth up to £75 to be used in part-payment for either the purchase of real nappies or a Real Nappy Laundry Service.

Find out more


Employment

Claim tax relief for your job expenses

You might be able to claim tax relief if:

  • you use your own money for things that you must buy for your job
  • you only use these things for your work

Find out more

Communities for Work Plus

Communities for Work Plus is a Welsh Government programme. We have a dedicated team available across Flintshire providing one-to-one mentoring and advice.

Find out more

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

Find out more

Find your local job centre

Your local Jobcentre Plus can provide support to help you prepare for, find, and stay in work

Find out more

Free broadband

Jobseekers can get six months of free high quality broadband with no contract and no credit check required.

Find out more

Healthy Working Wales

Healthy Working Wales has launched new guidance for employers on “The Cost of Living Crisis”.

Find out more

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

You can apply for New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to help you when you’re looking for work.

Find out more

Universal Credit

Universal Credit provides financial support for low-income households and it replaces the following benefits; Housing Benefit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Find out more


Health

Help with Health Costs

Information on guidance and services that can support you with health costs

Find out more

NHS Wales - Mental Health Hub

NHS Wales mental health and wellbeing hub contains useful information and resources to help you access the range of support that you may need.

Find out more

Mind - Money and mental health

Mind - Money and mental health

Find out more

Trussell Trust

Trussell Trust provide a list of foodbanks available in Flintshire

Find out more

Well-Fed

A partnership between Flintshire County Council, Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and Can Cook with an aim to 'feed-everyone-well' regardless of income.

Find out more


Housing and Bills

Cold Weather Payment

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

Find out more

Council Tax Reduction

If you are responsible for paying Council Tax in Flintshire and you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with some or all of your Council Tax bill.

Find out more

Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)

The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides 2 types of grant that you do not need to pay back.

On this page:

  • Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
  • Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)

Find out more

Disabled Facilities Grant

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a type of financial assistance used to help with adapting the home.

Find out more

Discretionary Housing Payment

If you are responsible for paying rent in Flintshire and you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with some or all of your rent.

On this page:

  • Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
  • Discretionary Housing Payment

Find out more

Discounts and Offers

View offers available from businesses to help with groceries, retail, utilities and more.

Find out more

Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water - Support with bills

Support with bills - there are a number of ways Dwr Cymru may be able to help make bills more affordable.

Families who receive the pupil development grant and are in receipt of a means tested or disability benefit may also be entitled to help towards their water bills.

Find out more

Energy Bills Support Scheme

The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) scheme will be targeted at households that missed out on the £400 energy bills discount scheme due to not having a direct contractual relationship with their electricity supplier.

Find out more

Energy Saving

Find information about support currently available to Flintshire residents to help reduce energy usage/utility bills.

Contact the Domestic Energy Efficiency Project Team

  • 01352 703443
  • deepadmin@flintshire.gov.uk

Find out more

Fuel Bank Foundation

The Foundation has built a network of more than 100 referral partners in Wales who are responsible for undertaking an initial assessment of need before referring customers to’ the Foundation for help. This includes vouchers for those with pre-payment meters and help with the cost of fuel for off-grid households.

For a list of referral partners in your area contact help@fuelbankfoundation.org.

Find out more

Help to Stay Wales

The Help to Stay – Wales scheme can offer support to those who are either:

  • having financial difficulty paying their existing mortgage
  • facing financial difficulty paying their existing mortgage

Find out more

Help with your TV Licence

Qualifying customers can choose from either a fortnightly or monthly payment plan that spreads the cost of a TV Licence over 12 months. This means you make smaller payments more frequently, helping you to better manage your finances.

There are other TV Licence concessions, which you might be eligible for depending on your circumstances. There are concessions available for:

Find out more

Household Costs

Find out about the help available with household costs.

Find out more

Housing Benefit

If you are responsible for paying rent in Flintshire and you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with some or all of your rent.

On this page:

  • Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
  • Discretionary Housing Payment

Find out more

Housing Solutions

If you want to apply for social housing or are at risk of becoming homeless, Housing Solutions can help you.

Find out more

Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

If you’re a homeowner, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on your mortgage or loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home.

Find out more

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

Find out more

Watersure Tariff

Available to qualifying customers who already have a water meter, or opt in to have a water meter fitted. 

Find out more

Welsh Government Warm Homes Programme

Nest - Helping make homes warmer and more energy efficient.

Find out more

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Find out more


Transport

Blue Badges

Apply for a blue badge or renew an existing badge.

Find out more

Help with Transport Costs

Find out what’s available to help with transport costs.

Find out more

Senior Citizen Concessionary Railcards

How to apply for or renew a Senior Railcard.

Find out more

Transport for Wales Concessionary Travel Card

If your primary address is in Wales and you’re either aged 60 and over or meet the Government’s disability eligibility criteria, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales and the borders and get discounted or free travel on many rail services

Find out more

mytravelpass

16-21 years old? Save approx 30% on bus travel in Wales

Find out more


Other Websites

Citizens Advice

Information and advice on a vast range of topics including benefits, debt, employment, consumer, housing, discrimination, education & relationships.

Find out more

Claim what's yours

Many people are unaware they may be entitled to benefits that could offer them the support they need.

If you are unsure about what benefits you can claim, Advicelink Cymru can help you check and claim what’s yours.

Find out more

Cost of Living - Stay Fire Safe

All Fire and Rescue Services in Wales and Public Health Wales are urging people to take simple steps to protect themselves from accidental fires and carbon monoxide poisoning as they look to keep warm and cut energy use this winter.

Find out more

Gov.wales - Get help with the cost of living

Financial support that might be available to help you.

Find out more

Healthy Working Wales

Healthy Working Wales has launched new guidance for employers on “The Cost of Living Crisis”.

Find out more

Help for Households

See what support is available to help with the cost of living and find out how to save money with our energy saving tips.

Find out more

Turn2Us Benefits Calculator

Millions of people are missing out on thousands of pounds. Check what you are entitled to now.

Find out more


Community Support Hubs

Rivertown Church,
Chester Rd West,
Shotton,
CH5 1BX

Opening Times

  • Monday 9am - 12:30pm
  • Wednesday 9am - 12:30pm
  • Friday 9am - 12:30pm 

Kim Inspire,
The Hub Park Lane,
Holywell,
CH8 7UR

Opening Times

  • Wednesday 9:30am - 3:30pm
  • Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm

Phone lines open Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 3:30pm
01352 872 189

PHILS Hub,
Salvation Army,
Dee Rd,
Connah's Quay,
CH5 4NX

Opening Times

  • Friday 2pm - 4pm