Cost of Living Crisis

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SUPPORT COORDINATOR COST OF LIVING INFORMATION 

This is not an exhaustive list of support, but we hope patients find it useful, we will continue to add links to additional support. 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Government Information

https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living

https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/

Citizens Advice

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/get-help-with-the-cost-of-living/ 

Entitled To

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/cost-of-living

Money Saving Expert

(Martin Lewis has a weekly newsletter you can sign up to with lots of useful information and resources).

https://moneysavingexpert.com

Other Sites

https://uk.virginmoney.com/brighter-money/saving-and-budgeting-tips-to-help-with-cost-of-living-crisis/

Also, check your own Local Authority’s webpage for area specific support.

FOOD

Information on reducing your shopping bill.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61798003 

BBC Food Budget Recipes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/budget

My First Meals

Grace Mortimer is sharing her £10 weekly family meal plans (based on an Aldi price equivalent shop, on Instagram)

https://www.instagram.com/_myfirstmeals/

Free and Discounted Food Apps

There are some brilliant apps around that help to save food from going to waste. Examples are ‘Too Good to Go’ which allow people to rescue unsold food from restaurants, hotels and shops by collecting Magic bags of food at heavily discounted prices. ‘Olio’ is an app that enables people to give away free food and other items to neighbours to avoid waste. Both apps are available on Android and Apple and there are other similar things around.

Food Banks

If you cannot afford to eat, please do contact your local food bank. Many areas will also have other community support available, and some can also provide energy vouchers also. There are various providers of local food banks. The Trussell Trust is one example. Some local churches run food banks along with other community charities.

https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ 

ENERGY BILLS 

Most utility companies have hardship funds and grants to help customers who are in hardship or arrears. It is also worth registering that you have a chronic illness/disability so that they can add you to their register. Scope have a specific support service for disabled people to help access help with energy and water bills. 

https://www.scope.org.uk/disability-energy-support/ 

WELFARE BENEFITS CHECKS 

Local councils should offer a service to help you check through your benefits and make sure you are not missing out on anything you could be entitled to. Citizens Advice should offer this service also. Most local authorities are also offering cost of living advice. Check their websites. 

EMERGENCY GRANTS ETC 

Lightening Reach

A new one-stop online platform called Lightening Reach allows people in need to receive grants and other support from charities and local authorities and claims it is massively speeding up the process - in some cases cutting the time it can take from several weeks or even months to only a few days. 

https://www.lightningreach.org/application-portal 

Behcet’s UK Members’ Grants

https://behcetsuk.org/personal-grant-aid-fund 

PATIENT INFORMATION

Travel Costs

Travel for hospital appointments if on benefits or a low income 

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/ 

Prescription Costs

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/who-can-get-free-prescriptions/ 

Save money on frequent prescriptions with pre-pay certificates etc.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/nhs-prescription-charges/ 

DEBT 

Free, confidential debt advice is available from a variety of organisations, including this one. 

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-advice-start.aspx 

TV LICENCE 

50% reduction in cost if legally blind (severely sight impaired). 

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/blindseverely-sight-impaired-aud5

Other useful information on living with Behçet’s can be found at behcetsuk.org/living-with-behcets/

Rebecca, Jean and Jackie 

Behçet’s Support Coordinators