Help with your household bills
Dealing with household bills can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. Am I on the best tariff? Can I afford to pay this month's bills? What can I do if I can't pay my bills? Who can I turn to for help?
There are lots of free,impartial and confidential services offering help with financial planning, debt management and what you might be entitled to.
Saving money on your bills and making sure you are claiming all the benefits and grants you are entitled to, will take the stress out of managing your household budget.
Help with household bills
Sandwell Council help at a local level to support people as the cost of living rises. Here you'll find links to useful information, advice and support from the council, DWP and other organisations.
Money Helper has pulled together a list of dedicated guides to help you save money on your house hold bills.
Information on what to do if you are struggling to pay your household bills.
Use the Money Saving Experts Money Makeover guide to help you cut your household bills.
Help with energy bills and switching energy supplier
Information about the benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.
uSwitch is an free online and telephone comparison and switching service that helps you to compare prices on a range of products and services such as gas and electricity suppliers and broadband providers.
Collective switching is where a group of consumers join together to negotiate a better deal with their gas and electricity suppliers. An auction then takes place where energy companies will offer competitive prices for the group. It is free to join collective switching and you do not have to accept the winning offer, so there is nothing to lose.
Provides impartial advice to home owners and those in private rented properties on issues such as pre-payment metering, understanding energy bills and switching energy providers.
GoCompare Energy Calculator helps you to see how much something costs to run.
Use the calculator below to pick the appliances you want to compare and select how long they’ll be in use for.
Offers independent and impartial advice to help you lower your energy usage and energy bills.
Impartial information and advice on household and business energy from Britain's energy regulator, Ofgem. Choose from our energy guides or compare suppliers and view our consumer research below.
Which consumer advice on switching your energy supplier and energy efficiency savings.
Finding it difficult to pay your water bills?
can help customers who are on a low income.
provides similar support to their customers.
Warmth and Heating Schemes
Warm Spaces are free, safe and supportive spaces you can visit during the colder months.
If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment to help with the cost of heating your home. The scheme usually runs between November and March and if eligible, you will receive a payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather during these months.
Find out about Cold Weather Payment, Warm Home Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel Payment.
provides free impartial advice, in person or over the phone, to help keep homes warmer.
They offer advice on switching energy suppliers and have specialists advising on benefits and free energy saving measures.
Call 0800 196 8298 or 0800 988 2881 or email warmerhomesWM@mea.org.uk
LEAP The Energy and Money Saving Service
LEAP is a free service that is helping people keep warm and reduce their energy bills without costing them any money.