Money
How to get a free heat pump and cut your energy bills by up to £380 a year
HEAT pumps are an environmentally friendly way to keep your home warm and can reduce your heating bills significantly
And best of all, you might be able to get one installed for free.
Air source heat pumps take in cold air, raise its temperature and use this to heat a home, potentially saving billpayers £380 a year on their energy costs.
While heat pumps use electricity to heat the cold air, which normally comes from outside, they produce far more energy than they use and are around four times more efficient than a traditional gas or oil boiler.
And they last around five years longer than your standard gas boiler.
Ground source heat pumps are also available, which work in a similar way using the natural heat from the ground.
Exactly how much a heat pump could save you, depends on the heating system you’re upgrading from.
The Energy Saving Trust has estimated that replacing a G-rated heating system with a high performing heat pump in a semi-detached house could result in savings of £380 a year,
Even replacing a G-rated system with a low performing heat pump would save you around £200 a year.
Replacing an average heating system with a high performing heat pump in a semi-detached house could save you £210 a year.
An air source heat pump costs significantly more than a gas boiler on average, according to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).
But costs are coming down all the time and energy companies are offering some heat pumps for £500, with a government grant.
If you’re on a low income, you might even be able to get all costs covered as you upgrade.
These are the schemes available to get a free or discounted heat pump installed in your home:
Energy Company Obligation
The Energy Company Obligation is a government scheme that helps hard-up households install home upgrades that will tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions.
It requires medium and large energy suppliers to help low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.
Energy suppliers can choose how they fulfil their obligations but many offer to cover the cost of installing heat pumps.
Some will even also install solar panels at homes to power the pumps, leading to further reductions to energy bills.
You might qualify for the help if you live in private housing and get one of the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child Benefit
- Housing Benefit
If you own your home and are seeking help, it must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G.
Whereas if you rent from a private landlord, you can access support if your house has an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G.
You can check the energy rating of your home on the government website.
There is no cap on the funding that households can get, which means you may be able to get a grant to cover the total cost of installing a heat pump at your home.
The scheme also offers help with covering the cost of other energy efficient measures, like insulation.
To apply for the scheme you can contact your local authority or your energy supplier.
Different suppliers will offer funding for different projects, so you need to check with your provider.
The following suppliers all take part in the scheme:
- British Gas
- E (Gas & Electricity)
- E.ON
- Ecotricity
- EDF
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Scottish Power
- So Energy
- Utility Warehouse
- Utilita
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a type of renewable energy technology that enables you to heat your home in an environmentally friendly way.
They deliver heat at a lower temperature than gas and oil boilers so they have to be run for much longer periods at a time.
There are also ground source heat pumps that take the heat from underground by pumping water through it in pipes.
Heat pumps take the available heat from the ground or air and increase it to a higher temperature using a compressor.
It then transfers the heat to the heating system in your home.
The pump uses electricity to run but it takes less energy than the heat it produces, making it an efficient way to warm your home.
Boiler upgrade scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers households grants up to £7,500 to install heat pumps in their homes.
You can apply for the grant, which aims to cut carbon emissions, whatever your financial situation.
To get the help you must:
- live in England or Wales
- own the property you’re applying for
- be using the grant money to replace a fossil fuel heating system (such as oil, gas, electric or liquefied petroleum gas)
- have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
An MCS certified installer will be able to give you a quote for installation and tell you if you are eligible for one of the grants.
You can find a list of MCS-certified installers by going on the msccertified.com website.
Once you’ve agreed a quote with the installer, they will normally apply for the grant on your behalf.
The value of the grant is then be deducted off the cost of installation.
So if the work costs £12,500, you would pay £5,000.
Other savings
Many energy firms also have special tariffs and offers for those installing heat pumps in their homes.
EDF offers customers with heat pumps access to a special tariff to enhance their savings.
It is also pledging to give free electricity throughout December 2025 to those that install the technology.
Octopus also has a tariff specially designed for heat pump users.
The provider said the Cosy Octopus tariff could save households £264 a year, compared to using a gas boiler.
Installing a heat pump through British Gas would make you eligible for its heat pump energy offer, which caps the price of energy used by the device at 14p per kWh for 12 months, potentially saving customers £456.
Before you look to have a pump installed it’s worth checking what your provider will offer and whether you need to install through them to claim.
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
Don’t hold out hope for any more game changers in protection
Remember when former Apple chief executive Steve Jobs stood up in 2007 and said, “We are going to launch three revolutionary products?”
To cheers from the audience, he revealed the first to be “a widescreen iPod with touch controls.” There were more gasps as he revealed the second as “a revolutionary mobile phone.” And when he announced the third as a “breakthrough internet communicator,” the people in the room almost lost it.
But when he unexpectedly said, “All three of these products are in the same device – the iPhone,” he brought the house down.
With successive generations of iPhones, it’s harder to care about the differences unless you are a true tech geek
Jobs’s speech is legendary, and the iPhone was genuine innovation which has shaped the smart-phone world we live in today. But have we seen something as genuinely innovative since then? The iPhone has evolved through 16 generations and, taking into account the various ‘S’ models over the years, there must be approaching 20 generations now.
I remember the iPhone 4, with its Retina display, was pretty epic. The Apple advertising said, “This changes everything. Again.” But with successive generations of iPhones, it’s harder to care about the differences unless you are a true tech geek. A slightly better camera, a beveled screen, a non-beveled screen, a notch.
Looking back at the history of protection products, I see a similar pattern. In 1996, Scottish Provident introduced the innovative ‘Menu of benefits’ product.
The concept of added-value services was initially met with scepticism, but these are essential complements to the insurance elements
Predating Apple by over a decade, it put three products into one and let advisers and their clients choose any combination to suit their needs. At the time, people used words like “revolutionary” and “innovative” as true descriptors, rather than cliched marketing buzzwords.
In the early 2000s, another company introduced what we now call added-value services to the protection market. The concept of added-value services was initially met with scepticism, but these benefits are essential complements to the insurance elements.
When will the next game-changer emerge in the smartphone and protection markets? Because it seems we are now locked into a cycle of gradual improvements rather than stand out differences.
Don’t get me wrong, we should welcome continuous improvements, especially anything that benefits the customer. But do gradual improvements change customer behaviour in the way we would like?
Are the improvements more motivated by keeping the provider towards the top of the rankings?
Consider the news reports that Vitality has improved its income protection offering. It says it will “…expand its range of deferral periods for a further 280 occupations” and will “…also be moving 349 manual roles and skilled trade occupations to an ‘own occupation’ definition of incapacity, replacing its ‘special definition’ that was previously used.”
These are good improvements but it feels to me like the Apple equivalent of adding more megapixels to the main camera, or giving a choice of wide-angle lens sizes.
Every year we see another round of additions and refinements to the list of critical illnesses. Better definitions and therefore improved cover. We can say the same about added-value benefits.
Again, these are all great but do any of these improvements make it easier to sell protection to people on the street? Or are the improvements more motivated by keeping the provider towards the top of the rankings on all the various comparison engines and product analysis tools?
Will cost of being a first mover in a low margin environment always stifle true innovation?
In my last article, I said: “We know GenZ use TikTok as a search engine. We know they have short attention spans. We know they don’t like complexity. We know they don’t like filling in forms.
“And yet we expect them to get excited by our extremely complicated, generic protection products that have 30 page application forms and that we don’t talk about on TikTok.”
Will our current cycle of product improvements ever start to appeal to new audiences unless we come up with something genuinely revolutionary? Or will cost of being a first mover in a low margin environment always stifle true innovation?
Will we ever see one of the chief executives of protection providers step, Steve Jobs like, onto a stage and make a presentation that’ll be quoted for years to come about a revolutionary protection product that will appeal to a new generation of customers?
Roger Edwards is managing director of Roger Edwards Marketing Ltd and marketing director of Protection Review
Money
Full list of companies paying Real Living Wage as half a million workers get pay rise of up to £13.85 an hour
HUNDREDS of thousands of workers will get a pay rise as the Real Living Wage increases today.
Employees of companies including Nationwide, Oxfam and Ikea will all see their hourly rate increase to almost £14 an hour.
As of today, the real living wage will rise by 60p to £12.60 an hour across the UK or by 70p to £13.85 if you live in London.
The real living wage is different from the government-set minimum wage – it is the only UK pay rate based on the cost of living.
Employers have the right to choose whether they want to offer the real living wage to workers – they are not legally required to do so.
The government’s national living wage is based on recommendations from trade unions and small businesses, and is set this year at a minimum hourly rate of £11.44 for workers over the age of 21.
Across the UK there are over 15,995 companies which pay the real living wage following a campaign on workers’ rights in 2001 by Citizens UK.
Big and small companies across the charity, public and private sectors have pledged to pay the Real Living Wage to their employers.
Here are some well-known examples:
- Nationwide
- Burberry
- Chelsea Football Club
- Everton Football Club
- Liverpool Football Club
- Ikea
- Lush
- The Royal Albert Hall
- ITV
- Saga
- University of Cambridge
- Transport for Greater Manchester
- Thames Water
- Scottish Power
- Ring Go
- Jamie Oliver
- National Express
- Insignia Technologies
- Santander
- Unifrog
- Which?
More than 100 independent businesses, such as coffee shops, pubs and restaurants are also signed up to the fair pay scheme.
For example:
- Twenty Coffee Company, Bristol
- The Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye
- The Swan, York
- St Canna’s Ale House, Cardiff
- Brixton Blend Coffee Shop, London
If you want to browse the full list of companies and find out more, you can visit the Real Living Wage Foundation website.
Here you can use searching filters to sift through the companies by region, industry and sector.
There is also an interactive map which you can use to find out which ones on the list are near you.
Just type in your postcode or the type of business you are looking for and it will show you local employers which are on the scheme.
Katherine Chapman, director of the Real Living Wage Foundation said low-paid workers have been “hardest hit by the cost of living crisis.”
She said: “The real living wage remains the only UK wage rate calculated based on actual living costs, and the new rates announced today will make a massive difference to almost half a million workers who will see their pay increase.”
What is the difference between the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage?
The National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage are two different things.
They are both set by the government – so are separate from the Real Living Wage.
The National Living Wage is the legal minimum employers have to pay workers aged 21 and over and is £11.44 an hour.
Before 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage was for those aged 23 and over and was £10.42 an hour.
The National Minimum Wage is the minimum amount that workers under 21 are entitled to.
Exactly how much you get depends on how old you are.
So if you are 21 or over you are entitled to at least £11.44 an hour.
While if you’re 18 to 20, the minimum wage is £8.60 an hour.
And if you’re under 18 or an apprentice this is £6.40 an hour.
When was the minimum wage introduced?
THE first National Minimum Wage was put in place in 1998 by the Labour government.
It originally applied to workers aged 22 and over, and there was a separate rate for those aged 18-21.
A separate rate for 16-17-year-olds was introduced in 2004, and in 2010, 21-year-olds became eligible for the adult rate of the National Minimum Wage.
The rate is set by the Government each year based on recommendations by the Low Pay Commission (LPC).
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
Home REIT to pay off Scottish Widows loan as it raises £27m in auctions
The group expects to repay its remaining loan amount of £72m before the end of the year.
The post Home REIT to pay off Scottish Widows loan as it raises £27m in auctions appeared first on Property Week.
Money
Walmart’s $5,497 Two-Story Tiny Home: Affordable Living
Walmart’s Affordable Two-Story Tiny Home: The $5,497 Housing Solution
As housing costs continue to rise, more people are looking for affordable alternatives that don’t sacrifice comfort or functionality. Tiny homes are a booming trend, offering a compact and efficient living solution. Walmart is joining the movement with an exciting and budget-friendly offering—a two-story tiny home priced at just $5,497. This could be your ticket to owning a home without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer struggling to enter the housing market, someone seeking a minimalist lifestyle, or just looking for a cost-effective rental property, Walmart’s tiny home could be exactly what you need. Its simple yet versatile design makes it an excellent option for a variety of uses—from a guest house, Airbnb rental, or even a home office or studio space.
Tiny Living, Big Benefits
Tiny homes like Walmart’s Best Barns Geneva 12×16 Wood Shed Kit offer more than just a place to live—they’re a lifestyle choice. Embracing tiny living allows homeowners to minimize their carbon footprint, reduce energy consumption, and save money on utilities. For those tired of the burden of large homes and hefty mortgages, a tiny home provides a refreshing alternative.
This specific model is perfect for those who need extra space on their property, whether it’s a single-car garage, a place to store tools, or a cozy living space for guests. From the outside, it resembles a high-quality garage shed, but inside, it’s built to maximize space with a second-floor loft, adding valuable storage or an extra sleeping area.
What’s more, tiny homes are customizable. The Best Barns Geneva model comes pre-primed, so you can easily paint it in your preferred color, making it truly your own. And if you’re a fan of DIY projects, this tiny home provides a hands-on opportunity to enhance your skills, as assembly is required.
In fact, Walmart’s priciest tiny home currently stands at a whopping $29,990. So, if you’re looking for a more budget-conscious option, this $5,497 model offers fantastic value.
Related: Top 3 survey platforms to earn extra cash 2024!
A Quick and Easy Purchase
One of the standout features of this tiny home is its ease of purchase and delivery. Walmart offers delivery in less than a week, meaning your tiny home could be on your property in just a few days. The current listed price is $5,947, slightly above the $5,497 price point, so be sure to check Walmart’s website for up-to-date pricing, availability, and potential promotions.
While the home is available online, availability may vary between in-store, online, and app purchases. Walmart is currently offering free shipping for this product, with a delivery date as early as Tuesday, October 29. However, stock availability is subject to change, so it’s always a good idea to check back regularly if the item is out of stock.
Who Should Consider Buying Walmart’s Tiny Home?
- First-time buyers: Entering the housing market can be tough, but Walmart’s tiny home offers an affordable alternative to skyrocketing home prices.
- Airbnb hosts: For those interested in generating rental income, a tiny home is a low-maintenance option that can serve as a cozy retreat for travelers.
- Homeowners needing extra space: Whether it’s for guests, storage, or a home office, this tiny home offers additional living space without the hassle of a major home renovation.
- DIY enthusiasts: If you love working with your hands, assembling this home could be an exciting project that adds value to your property.
Additional Considerations
While Walmart’s tiny home is an appealing choice, there are a few additional factors to keep in mind before purchasing. First, although the home is designed to be a cost-effective housing solution, it doesn’t come with flooring, so you’ll need to budget for this separately. Second, because it’s sold as a shed kit, you’ll need to be comfortable with a DIY assembly or hire a contractor to help put it together.
Moreover, while the home can handle wind speeds of up to 90 mph and snow loads of up to 45 lbs per square foot, it’s important to check local zoning laws and building codes to ensure the structure is compliant in your area. This will help avoid any legal complications and ensure that your tiny home is built to last.
Fast Delivery, Lasting Value
One of the best features? Walmart offers delivery in under a week—meaning your tiny home could arrive in just a few days. The current price is listed at $5,947 online, but it’s always a good idea to double-check Walmart’s website for the latest pricing and availability. While shipping is free at the moment, this is subject to change, so act fast if you’re ready to dive into tiny home living.
Ready to make a move? Visit Walmart’s website to see if this tiny home is in stock and to explore delivery options in your area.
Product Specifications:
Best Barns Geneva 12×16 Wood Shed Kit
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Dimensions | 192 x 144 x 163 inches |
Garage Door | 8’W x 7’H swing-open with transom windows |
Side Wall Height | 8′ 1″ |
Roof | Wind load: 90 mph; Snow load: 45 lbs/sq ft |
Materials | Pre-cut pine trim boards; Louisiana Pacific Smart Siding (3/8″) |
Extras | 2nd-floor loft with 4′ headroom |
Pre-Primed | Ready for painting |
Flooring | Not included |
Money
AHR Group’s transparency is its ‘USP’, says co-founder
The success of AHR Group is due to the “transparency of the whole business” while the financial sector has been “historically opaque”, which has given the international financial advice firm a “USP”.
This is what AHR Group managing director & co-founder William Burrows told Money Marketing when explaining how the firm first came about.
AHR Group was founded in 2020 following the merger of UAE-headquartered Arlo Wealth and Harrison Rowe, an international advisory business.
Founders Burrows, Tyla Phillips, Asad Sheikh and Daniel Waterman were at Harrison Rowe, while Daniel Dickinson and Marc Beattie were at Arlo Wealth.
Phillips is AHR Group executive director, Sheikh is AHR Group chief commercial officer, Waterman is AHR Group executive director and Dickinson is AHR Group CEO. Beattie is now Wealth Management Partners director, which is also based in the UAE.
AHR now has a significant presence in the UAE and offices in Mauritius, Malaysia, Cyprus, the UK and Australia.
Burrows recalled how in just eight weeks the two companies became one: “We realised Harrison Rowe was missing something that Arlo Wealth had and Arlo Wealth was missing something that Harrison Rowe had.”
Despite financial advice being very well established in the UK, “there are a number of nuances that change advice abroad”.
Burrows added that the perception of the international advice space has always been of concern in the UK as there have been international advisers “who have bent the rules”.
The main client base of AHR Group is British expats, with it being more likely when someone from the UK moves to another country, they will stay there, Burrows said.
He said that being an expat has a “huge impact on the advice given”. Once someone moves to another country, it usually means they have money saved in another jurisdiction, which adds another layer of “complexity” to the client.
For every five advisers AHR Group has, it also has a specialist working in a certain area.
In August and September this year, AHR Group received both International Professional Partner Firm (IPPF) recognition from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) chartered status.
AHR Group is the first and only international financial advice firm in the Middle East and Central South Asia regions to receive IPPF recognition from the CII.
AHR Dubai is the second firm in the Middle East to receive CISI recognition.
Burrows said “we are the only international firm that has both [CII &CISI] recognition”, which is “more meaningful” for British expats.
Also in July 2024, Titan Wealth announced it had bought AHR Group.
Burrows said this started with a conversation in early 2023.
He said: “We were happy to be bought by Titan as we believe in the objective of Titan, the firm is on a clear mission and wants to deliver better outcomes.”
The Titan acquisition “means we can fast track our business goals from 10-15 years to two or three”.
Upon completion of the acquisition, AHR will be rebranded as Titan Wealth International, which Burrows said will happen this side of the year (2024).
As Burrows added: “We want to evolve, and a name change and a rebrand is the way forward.”
Money
Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to check if you’re missing out on free government cash
MARTIN Lewis has issued an urgent warning to millions of households who are missing out on vital benefits to make a claim.
Every year, people lose out on an estimated £23 billion in benefits and support due to stigma or the assumption that they are not eligible.
In the MoneySaving Expert newsletter Martin Lewis said: “Billions in benefits goes unclaimed each year – most by workers or pensioners who have paid into the system for yonks and are in need of help.
‘Even some with higher incomes are due – don’t assume ‘it’s not me’.”
The consumer champion has rounded up seven benefits that are massively underclaimed.
Here we explain whether you are eligible.
Universal Credit
Around 1.4 million people miss out on an average of up to £5,800 in Universal Credit each year.
The monthly benefit is a “catch-all” for those of working age who have low or no income and living and housing costs.
Households with incomes of up to £35,000 a year are the most likely to be missing out.
But if you have kids then high childcare costs and rent could mean you may still be eligible if your household income is up to £60,000 a year.
You can make a claim through the Government’s website or by calling the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Attendance Allowance
Up to 1.1 million pensioners are missing out on at least £3,778 a year in Attendance Allowance.
This benefit is not mean-tested and gives a fixed payout of £3,778 a year, or £5,644 a year to cover some of the cost of providing care to someone who needs it.
Those who needed help with day to day tasks such as washing or eating and have done so for more than six months could be missing out.
You can make a claim if you need this support during the day or at night.
If you have a condition such as Parkinson’s, dementia, terminal illness or blindness then you could be missing out.
Crucial to claim Pension Credit if you can
HUNDREDS of thousands of pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit.
The Sun’s Assistant Consumer Editor Lana Clements explains why it’s imperative to apply for the benefit..
Pension Credit is designed to top up the income of the UK’s poorest pensioners.
In itself the payment is a vital lifeline for older people with little income.
It will take weekly income up to to £218.15 if you’re single or joint income to £332.95.
Yet, an estimated 800,000 don’t claim this support. Not only are they missing on this cash, but far more extra support that is unlocked when claiming Pension Credit.
With the winter fuel payment – worth up to £300 now being restricted to pensioners claiming Pension Credit – it’s more important than ever to claim the benefit if you can.
Pension Credit also opens up help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills and even a free TV licence if you are 75 or older.
All this extra support can make a huge difference to the quality of life for a struggling pensioner.
It’s not difficult to apply for Pension Credit, you can do it up to four months before you reach state pension age through the government website or by calling 0800 99 1234.
You’ll just need your National Insurance number, as well as information about income, savings and investments.
You can apply for Attendance Allowance through the Government’s website or by post.
For help with your application, contact the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122.
Council Tax Support
Up to 2.25 million people miss out on up to £1,500 a year in council tax support.
Each council runs its own scheme, so the amount you can get will depend on where you live.
In some regions it can cut your Council Tax bill by up to 100%.
If you qualify for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit then you are often due a Council Tax reduction.
But these are not made automatically and you must apply, which is why so many people miss out.
To apply you will need to contact your local council.
You can find your local council here.
Carer’s allowance
Approximately 530,000 carers miss out on up to £4,250 each year.
Carer’s allowance is a specific payment for people who act as unpaid carers.
This can include a family member, spouse, child or even someone that you are not related to.
You are likely to be missing out if you care for someone who usually gets Attendance Allowance, a Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance.
You may also be eligible if you spend more than 35 hours a week helping with everyday tasks such as washing or cooking and earn less than £151 a week or have a low State Pension.
If you care for someone for less than 35 hours a week then you may be able to claim Carer’s Credit, which helps build National Insurance years to give you a greater State Pension.
You can also back-date it, which could boost the amount you receive even more.
To apply visit the Government website.
Pension Credit
The Government estimates that around 760,000 pensioner households are missing out on Pension Credit, which is worth £3,900 a year on average.
Pension credit tops up your income.
It is still worth claiming even if you are only due 50p a week as it opens the door for other support such as the Winter Fuel Payment, Council Tax Reduction and free TV licence.
It’s worth checking if you could claim it if you are aged over 66 and have a weekly income of below £235 (£350 if you are a couple and are both State Pension age).
You can apply through the Government’s website or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Housing Benefit
Around 294,000 pensioners miss out on an average of £4,400 a year in help with their rent.
For those who are eligible and aged under 66 support for housing costs forms part of Universal Credit.
This is not the case with those of State Pension age.
Renters who are eligible for Pension Credit and are on a low income are likely to be missing out.
When you apply for Pension Credit you can usually make an application for Housing Benefit at the same time.
You can apply for Pension Credit online or contact the Pension Service to claim.
You can call the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234.
The Pension Service will then send details of your claim for Housing Benefit to your council.
If you already get Pension Credit you can apply through your local council.
Free School Meals
Approximately 470,000 families are missing out on free school meals, which are worth £490 a year.
Free school meals are served to eligible under-18s who are still in school or college.
Many people on Universal Credit with very low or no income are missing out as they do not realise they can only apply once they have received their first benefit payment.
Others lose out as they do not know they may need to re-register at the start of every year for each one of their children.
You can check if your child can get free school meals in England here.
To apply you will need to contact your local authority.
Can I get other support through my benefits?
Claiming benefits often opens the door to other discounts such as broadband social tariffs.
If you are successful in claiming any of these benefits then you should check if you are eligible.
If you are on a low income but do not qualify for benefits then help is still available.
You may still qualify for a water social tariff, so check with your supplier.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Hyperelastic gel is one of the stretchiest materials known to science
-
Technology4 weeks ago
Is sharing your smartphone PIN part of a healthy relationship?
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
‘Running of the bulls’ festival crowds move like charged particles
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
How to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Maxwell’s demon charges quantum batteries inside of a quantum computer
-
Technology1 month ago
Would-be reality TV contestants ‘not looking real’
-
Science & Environment4 weeks ago
X-rays reveal half-billion-year-old insect ancestor
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Sunlight-trapping device can generate temperatures over 1000°C
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Liquid crystals could improve quantum communication devices
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Quantum ‘supersolid’ matter stirred using magnets
-
Womens Workouts4 weeks ago
3 Day Full Body Women’s Dumbbell Only Workout
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Ukraine is using AI to manage the removal of Russian landmines
-
TV3 weeks ago
সারাদেশে দিনব্যাপী বৃষ্টির পূর্বাভাস; সমুদ্রবন্দরে ৩ নম্বর সংকেত | Weather Today | Jamuna TV
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Laser helps turn an electron into a coil of mass and charge
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Why this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
A new kind of experiment at the Large Hadron Collider could unravel quantum reality
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Quantum forces used to automatically assemble tiny device
-
News3 weeks ago
Massive blasts in Beirut after renewed Israeli air strikes
-
News2 weeks ago
Navigating the News Void: Opportunities for Revitalization
-
Football3 weeks ago
Rangers & Celtic ready for first SWPL derby showdown
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
A slight curve helps rocks make the biggest splash
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Nerve fibres in the brain could generate quantum entanglement
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
How to wrap your mind around the real multiverse
-
Business3 weeks ago
When to tip and when not to tip
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Julianna Peña trashes Raquel Pennington’s behavior as champ
-
Business3 weeks ago
DoJ accuses Donald Trump of ‘private criminal effort’ to overturn 2020 election
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Samsung Passkeys will work with Samsung’s smart home devices
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
ITER: Is the world’s biggest fusion experiment dead after new delay to 2035?
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Nuclear fusion experiment overcomes two key operating hurdles
-
News1 month ago
▶️ Hamas in the West Bank: Rising Support and Deadly Attacks You Might Not Know About
-
News1 month ago
▶️ Media Bias: How They Spin Attack on Hezbollah and Ignore the Reality
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Microphone made of atom-thick graphene could be used in smartphones
-
News3 weeks ago
▶ Hamas Spent $1B on Tunnels Instead of Investing in a Future for Gaza’s People
-
MMA2 weeks ago
‘Uncrowned queen’ Kayla Harrison tastes blood, wants UFC title run
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Wales fall to second loss of WXV against Italy
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Time travel sci-fi novel is a rip-roaringly good thought experiment
-
Technology4 weeks ago
Why Machines Learn: A clever primer makes sense of what makes AI possible
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Physicists have worked out how to melt any material
-
News1 month ago
the pick of new debut fiction
-
News1 month ago
Our millionaire neighbour blocks us from using public footpath & screams at us in street.. it’s like living in a WARZONE – WordupNews
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Pereira vs. Rountree prediction: Champ chases legend status
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Boxing: World champion Nick Ball set for Liverpool homecoming against Ronny Rios
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Musk faces SEC questions over X takeover
-
Technology1 month ago
Meta has a major opportunity to win the AI hardware race
-
Sport3 weeks ago
World’s sexiest referee Claudia Romani shows off incredible figure in animal print bikini on South Beach
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Dana White’s Contender Series 74 recap, analysis, winner grades
-
Technology3 weeks ago
This AI video generator can melt, crush, blow up, or turn anything into cake
-
Technology3 weeks ago
The best budget robot vacuums for 2024
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Pereira vs. Rountree preview show live stream
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Man City ask for Premier League season to be DELAYED as Pep Guardiola escalates fixture pile-up row
-
News3 weeks ago
Family plans to honor hurricane victim using logs from fallen tree that killed him
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Coco Gauff stages superb comeback to reach China Open final
-
News3 weeks ago
German Car Company Declares Bankruptcy – 200 Employees Lose Their Jobs
-
News3 weeks ago
‘Blacks for Trump’ and Pennsylvania progressives play for undecided voters
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Texas is suing TikTok for allegedly violating its new child privacy law
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Sturm Graz: How Austrians ended Red Bull’s title dominance
-
Money3 weeks ago
Wetherspoons issues update on closures – see the full list of five still at risk and 26 gone for good
-
News2 weeks ago
Heavy strikes shake Beirut as Israel expands Lebanon campaign
-
TV2 weeks ago
Love Island star sparks feud rumours as one Islander is missing from glam girls’ night
-
Business3 weeks ago
Bank of England warns of ‘future stress’ from hedge fund bets against US Treasuries
-
Business3 weeks ago
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she needs to raise £20bn. How might she do it?
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Alex Pereira faces ‘trap game’ vs. Khalil Rountree
-
News3 weeks ago
Heartbreaking end to search as body of influencer, 27, found after yacht party shipwreck on ‘Devil’s Throat’ coastline
-
Business3 weeks ago
Sterling slides after Bailey says BoE could be ‘a bit more aggressive’ on rates
-
MMA3 weeks ago
UFC 307 preview show: Will Alex Pereira’s wild ride continue, or does Khalil Rountree shock the world?
-
Technology3 weeks ago
The best shows on Max (formerly HBO Max) right now
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
Physicists are grappling with their own reproducibility crisis
-
Football3 weeks ago
Simo Valakari: New St Johnstone boss says Scotland special in his heart
-
Technology3 weeks ago
J.B. Hunt and UP.Labs launch venture lab to build logistics startups
-
TV3 weeks ago
Phillip Schofield accidentally sets his camp on FIRE after using emergency radio to Channel 5 crew
-
News3 weeks ago
Woman who died of cancer ‘was misdiagnosed on phone call with GP’
-
Science & Environment3 weeks ago
Markets watch for dangers of further escalation
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Microsoft just dropped Drasi, and it could change how we handle big data
-
Sport3 weeks ago
China Open: Carlos Alcaraz recovers to beat Jannik Sinner in dramatic final
-
TV3 weeks ago
Maayavi (මායාවී) | Episode 23 | 02nd October 2024 | Sirasa TV
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Popular financial newsletter claims Roblox enables child sexual abuse
-
News3 weeks ago
Hull KR 10-8 Warrington Wolves – Robins reach first Super League Grand Final
-
Technology3 weeks ago
OpenAI secured more billions, but there’s still capital left for other startups
-
Business3 weeks ago
Head of UK Competition Appeal Tribunal to step down after rebuke for serious misconduct
-
Business3 weeks ago
The search for Japan’s ‘lost’ art
-
Sport3 weeks ago
Aaron Ramsdale: Southampton goalkeeper left Arsenal for more game time
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison pick, start time, odds: UFC 307
-
News3 weeks ago
Balancing India and China Is the Challenge for Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
“Golden owl” treasure hunt launched decades ago may finally have been solved
-
Science & Environment1 month ago
A tale of two mysteries: ghostly neutrinos and the proton decay puzzle
-
Business4 weeks ago
Eurosceptic Andrej Babiš eyes return to power in Czech Republic
-
Sport1 month ago
Joshua vs Dubois: Chris Eubank Jr says ‘AJ’ could beat Tyson Fury and any other heavyweight in the world
-
News1 month ago
The Project Censored Newsletter – May 2024
-
Technology4 weeks ago
Artificial flavours released by cooking aim to improve lab-grown meat
-
Technology3 weeks ago
University examiners fail to spot ChatGPT answers in real-world test
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney renews blast at ‘gatekeeper’ platform owners
-
News3 weeks ago
Liverpool secure win over Bologna on a night that shows this format might work
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Gmail gets redesigned summary cards with more data & features
-
MMA3 weeks ago
Kayla Harrison gets involved in nasty war of words with Julianna Pena and Ketlen Vieira
-
Technology3 weeks ago
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S24+
-
Business3 weeks ago
Maurice Terzini’s insider guide to Sydney
-
Politics3 weeks ago
Rosie Duffield’s savage departure raises difficult questions for Keir Starmer. He’d be foolish to ignore them | Gaby Hinsliff
-
Health & fitness3 weeks ago
NHS surgeon who couldn’t find his scalpel cut patient’s chest open with the penknife he used to slice up his lunch
-
Technology3 weeks ago
How to disable Google Assistant on your Pixel Watch 3
-
Business3 weeks ago
Stark difference in UK and Ireland’s budgets
You must be logged in to post a comment Login