Help with housing costs

Council Tax | Water rates | Fuel bills | Housing insulation

Some water companies and energy companies provide a 'social tariff' that reduces utility costs for people in receipt of certain benefits.

Council Tax reduction

Mumsnet special needs webguide has links to heaps of useful organisations

Having a child with a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction, but you may be entitled to a reduction if your home is larger/adapted due to reasons related to your child's disability, for example:

It has an additional bathroom or kitchen required to meet their needs
There is a dedicated additional room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) required to meet the needs of the child
Extra space is required inside the property to allow a wheelchair user to access the property

You may also be entitled to a discount if your child is 'severely mentally impaired' and entitled to the Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate.

If you are eligible for a discount, then your bill will be reduced to that of a property in the next Council Tax band down: for example, a Band D property will be charged at Band C rate.

Water rates

Some water companies offer a discount if there is someone in the house who has a specific condition (such as incontinence) that means they need to use more water. Have a look on your local water company's website and contact them for more information.

"We are on a water meter and with South West Water. Their social tariff is called 'Watersure' and it is capped at £497 a year. I was paying over £100 a month previously with the water meter, so this has meant huge savings for me." Graciefer

Fuel bills

Some energy (gas and electric) suppliers offer a discounted tariff for people who get certain benefits, such as DLA. Ring your energy supplier and ask for information – or shop around and see which provider can offer you the best deal. But keep on the ball – tariffs are often changing.

"Today I received an updated bill and to my surprise, moving to a tariff for people entitled to certain benefits took £120 off of my bill!" Graciefer

Housing insulation

Warm Front is a government scheme providing grants to help provide insulation and heating improvements to your home. You may be entitled to up to £6,000 in grants, depending on your current heating and insulation provision and your family circumstances.

A DLA award for a child in your household will not qualify you for the Warm Front grant, according to its website, although anecdotal evidence on Mumsnet suggests this isn't always strictly observed by the assessors.

"Look into Warm Front grants. You may be able to get your house insulated or boiler repaired if someone in the house gets full DLA." morocco

One mum warns that cavity wall insulation is very noisy and dusty: "If you have noise sensitive children or any with asthma I'd keep 'em out of the way for the day."

It has to be said that not everyone is impressed with the scheme: "We found Warm Front to be a bit crap. We did get two lightbulbs though." Riven