Grants, Benefits and other Financial support for older adults

Finding grants and benefits to help you and your family

We are all finding it more difficult to pay bills, buy food and cover the day to day costs of living. Pensioners, carers, disabled people and those whose income is limited due to caring responsibilities can be especially vulnerable to money worries.

But, according to government statistics millions of households do not claim the money they are entitled to resulting in billions of pounds of unclaimed benefits each year.

A lot of benefits and grants are means tested and it can be hard to know how much financial support is available to you or your family.

If you are a carent, it is very likely that your parent will be entitled to attendance allowance which is one of the few available benefits which is not means tested.

Which grants and benefits are you entitled to? 

There are a few helpful advice and benefits calculators available online.   Some of these will ask you to register your details and others will ask you to respond to quite lengthy questionnaires.

The turn2us site is especially helpful because it readily allows you to see what might be available without you needing to supply much information at all. It lists the help available to people according to different situations  – according to age, disability, or other circumstances such as being bereaved.

At the same time, you can see what help might be there for you in various situations including if you identify as a carer.

The rules about benefits are sometimes different for people living in care homes and the site provides further information and advice about that.

Getting help with your claim

The site links to more detailed information about each specific benefit.

There are also links to helpful advisers and resources in areas according to postcodes. This might be helpful if you are helping a relative at a distance or if you (like so many of us) are simply interested in seeing who can help nearby.

If you still have questions, Turn2us offer a confidential helpline.

Money and pensions advice

The Department of Work and Pensions sponsors a “Money and Pensions service” (MaPs) available at this site .

Maps is an arm’s-length body which was established at the beginning of 2019, and which also has links to HM Treasury on policy matters relating to financial capability and debt advice.

It gives impartial money and pensions guidance, and it is free to use.

MoneyHelper is our consumer-facing service, providing free and impartial money and pensions guidance for people all across the UK.

Financial and practical help with heating and heating costs at home

Fuel costs are considerably high at the minute, but there are plenty of organisations who can provide support to help you keep warm.

Government support

Pensioners, older adults and those on lower incomes are entitled to a range of benefits with some variation across each of the countries in the UK. You will find the information:

For households in England & Wales here

For households in Scotland here

For those in Northern Ireland here

Local Councils

It is also worth contacting your Local Council.  The available support varies, depending on local arrangements and partnerships with energy companies and installers, but there are often grants available to help with boiler upgrades, insulation or other measures to make your home warmer or cheaper to heat.

Help from your gas or electricity network operator 

Network operators run the wires and pipes that bring gas and electricity to your home.  There are different operators in different part of the country.

These networks are different to the energy suppliers who charge you for your energy and who you will pay your bills to.  The government requires networks to provide support to the homes they serve, especially vulnerable households.  This support includes;

• The priority services register
• Free gas connections for homes which are “off grid”
• Help with home energy savings
• Advice and support relating to carbon monoxide safety
• Keeping you safe and warm at home and in warm hubs

Two of the largest operators are Northern Gas Networks and Cadent Gas  – you can find the support they offer through their websites.

You can find your gas and/or electricity operator by typing your postcode in to this form.

Personalised support

Try Green Doctors which is a partnership with environmental charity Groundwork to increase warmth and wellbeing among vulnerable households. Customers receive home visits during which experts install energy and water saving devices, offer advice around grants, rebates and utility switching and promote behaviour change around energy and water use.

If you would prefer to speak to someone then Citizens Advice can provide free benefits checks and energy advice and support.

Other sources of information and help

You might also find the Ofgem site helpful. The information for consumers section explains the various heat and energy related benefits and support available including how to get a smart meter or get connected to the mains.

Energy suppliers – the companies who charge you for gas or electricity –  are also expected to provide support to vulnerable customers.  The nature of that support varies between companies and often relates to your own financial or “vulnerable” circumstances  so you will need to contact them to find out what they can do.   You might be able to access free benefit entitlement checks, debt assistance, energy advice, or smart meters.

The energy savings trust also has some helpful information about energy efficiency at home.

Warm hubs and warm spaces

Alternatively, you can cut back on home heating costs by visiting one of a growing number of warm hubs.   These often provide food and company and can be helpful for older people living alone.   You can read more about the warm hub initiative in one county here and find warm spaces in your own area using this interactive map.