Cost of living support
Practical help during these difficult times
We’re working closely with our partners and support organisations across Salford to do all we can to help ease the cost of living crisis for our customers.
With escalating energy prices, rising food costs and soaring household bills, we know times are incredibly tough at the moment.
If you are worried about your finances and struggling to cope, please don’t suffer in silence as we have dedicated teams and services in place to support you.
Read on to find out more about some of the ways we can help…
Struggling financially? Contact our Income Management Team.
If ever you struggle with paying your rent, please don’t suffer in silence. Our dedicated Income Management Team can give you guidance and support.
We’re also working closely with our partners and support organisations across Salford to give you the help you need.
Call 0800 218 2000 or send us an email.
enquiries@salixhomes.co.ukHere’s just some of the ways we can help you
If you’re on a pre-payment meter and struggling to top up your gas or electricity, we can provide emergency top-up vouchers for eligible customers.
This is short term support for people who are in a crisis and need help obtaining an emergency supply of gas or electric for their household.
To receive the help, tenants would need to provide supporting evidence by answering questions on their income and household circumstances.
Each support request will be assessed on the information provided, and the amount given will be awarded via a voucher, or payment directly to a smart meter.
We can assist customers in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment from Salford City Council. This is an extra amount of money to help pay your rent.
Our Customer Support Fund could help tenants who find themselves financially in a crisis situation, or we can assist you to apply for other financial support.
Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
For customers who need it, the fund could help with:
- rent arrears
- white goods
- essential furniture
- clearance of property/garden
- removal costs if needed to improve their financial situation
- specialist medical furniture
- equipment needed to maintain garden/property condition
- food
- gas or electric.
The fund does not make cash payments, and does not cover utility debts, council tax, non-essential bills, non-essential household items or fines.
We can issue vouchers for our tenants to access community food banks in an emergency.
We will carry out an assessment with you, to make sure you are claiming all the benefits that you’re entitled to.
If an error has been made, we can support you to challenge the decision and claim any money you’re entitled to.
Stay connected - for free
We can provide free mobile data for customers on low incomes.
We know that the cost of topping up your mobile phone is an added expense that some people can’t afford at the moment.
With so many essential activities now done online, we want to help ensure our customers aren’t left disadvantaged or socially excluded by not having access to the internet.
We’re part of the National Databank scheme, and can provide free SIM cards, pre-loaded with data, for eligible customers. We have a limited number of SIM cards, which are available while our stock lasts.
Email laura.flint@salixhomes.co.ukGet a home energy check up from the Green Doctor - for free
We’ve joined forces with the Green Doctor service to help our residents stay warm, stay well and save money on household bills.
The Green Doctors offer free, impartial advice to help you take control of your bills, save energy where possible in the home, and access other services and initiatives available.
We can put you in touch to arrange a free home visit.
Find out moreFurnish your home - for free
The cost of furnishing a home can be a big expense and one that many people struggle to afford. If you’re struggling with the cost of buying essential furniture or appliances for your home, or can’t afford replacements if they’re broken, then we can refer you to our Furniture Recycling Scheme.
The scheme provides pre-loved furniture, household items and white goods free of charge to our customers who need them the most. We have a well-stocked warehouse of good quality, clean, furniture and homeware that has either been donated or has been left behind by a tenant who has moved out.
We can supply items like sofas, beds, tables, drawers and white goods like fridges, freezers and washing machines.
Find out moreCheck if you’re eligible for pension ‘top up’
Older people are missing out on thousands of pounds in unclaimed pension credit – could you be one of them?
Pension credit is a benefit designed to bring the weekly income of pensioners up to a minimum amount. But in Salford alone, it's estimated there's over £6.3million of pension credit currently unclaimed.
In addition to extra income, receiving pension credit also unlocks other financial benefits such as a free TV licence for over 75s, council tax support and grants for insulation and other green home improvements.
See if you’re eligible for any additional income.
Find out moreHere to help
As the cost of living crisis continues, we’ll be here to support our customers where they need it most.
We’re also working closely with Salford Council and other partner agencies to provide additional help and support where it’s needed.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details about the latest support available.
We now have a dedicated support section on our website where you can find out more about the support we have on offer, including information on what our partners and other local community services in Salford are doing to help, such as:
- Food banks and low-cost food pantries
- Family support including free baby essentials like nappies and formula
- Health and wellbeing – from help to quit smoking to accessing mental health support
- Salford Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB)
- Salford Credit Union
Salford Council has also launched an online Cost of Living hub where you can access more information about the Spirit of Salford initiative and the help that is available across the city.
Support from the Government
The Government has a number of measures to support people with the cost of energy and household bills.
Keep an eye on the Help for Households website for more information about Government support available, including help with other household costs, childcare costs, transport and finding work.
How we can help you
From food pantries to school uniforms, benefits to bills, we can give a helping hand to anyone who may be struggling
How we can help you
Energy and bills
Save on your energy bills, improve energy efficiency, and reduce our environmental footprint
Energy and billsAll of these financial pressures have hit at the same time and people are worried about how they will heat their homes or put food on the table.
If you’re worried, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We can provide advice and support, and we can refer you to specialist agencies if it is something we cannot help directly with.
People may be nervous to get in touch, but the main thing is to not suffer in silence.
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