Christmas and winter can both be hard, especially if you are struggling for money. To help with that, we have written this guide which has useful links to services in Bradford and Craven that can help you with things like paying the bills and managing your money.
Benefits
There are some services open around Christmas who might be able to offer information and advice on benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Cold Weather Payments. Here is a list of them below.
Please note that opening times may change during Christmas – it is best to check on their websites or by contacting them to see when they are open. Some of the services listed below also offer debt advice.
- Cost of Living Bradford
- A website set up by Bradford Council listing useful information on support with the cost of living, including housing, food resources, energy and bills
- Website: https://costoflivingbradford.co.uk/
- Citizens Advice Bradford & Airedale and Bradford Law Centre
- Locations across the district: Locations page
- Phone: 08082 787 828
- Email: admin@bradfordcab.com
- St Vincent’s De Paul (CHAS)
- Works in Bradford South (Wibsey, Buttershaw, Wyke, Odsal)
- Phone: 0127 472 6790
- Email: wyinfo@svp.org.uk
- Karmand Community Centre
- Works in Bradford East (Thornbury, Tyersal, Laisterdyke, Undercliffe, Eccleshill, Greengates, Idle, Bowling)
- Website: http://www.karmand.org.uk/public
- Email: info@karmand.org.uk
- Phone: 01274 669 593
- Equality Together – Complex Needs Benefits Advice
- Support with benefit claim forms and appeals, as well as advice
- Phone: 01274 594 173
- Keighley Healthy Living Pathways Service
- Support and information for people in crisis living in the Keighley area
- Website: https://www.khl.org.uk/pathways-service/
- Email: admin@khl.org.uk
- Phone: 01535 610 180
- Scope
- Phone: 0800 800 3333
- Email: helpline@scope.org.uk
- North Yorkshire Council – Money, benefit advice and support
- For people living in the Craven area (includes Skipton, Cross Hills, Gargrave, Settle, Hellifield and Ingleton
- North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre
- Covers the Craven area
- Open Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm except on Bank Holidays
- Website: https://www.cany.org.uk/
- Phone: 08082 787 900
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have information about benefits on the GOV.UK website:
- Disability Service Centre – contact details for enquiries about disability-related benefits
- Benefits Calculators
- Personal Independent Payments (PIP)
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults
- Warm Home Discount Scheme – getting £150 of your electricity bill if you are eligible; if so, you will get a letter
- Winter Fuel Payment – for people born before 25th September 1957, who could get between £250 and £600 to help with paying heating bills
Debt advice and information
- Stepchange
- Website: https://www.stepchange.org/
- Phone: 0800 138 1111
- Other contact details: Contact Stepchange
- Citizens Advice Bradford & Airedale and Bradford Law Centre
- Locations across the district: Locations page
- Phone: 08082 787 828
- Email: admin@bradfordcab.com
- Bradford District Credit Union
- Website: http://bdcu.co.uk/
- Phone: 01274 434100
- Christians Against Poverty
- They run a free debt counselling service and help anyone regardless of their religious beliefs
- Website: http://www.capuk.org/
- Phone: 0800 328 0006
Utility bills – energy and mobile data
- Ofgem – Get help if you cannot afford your energy bills
- MoneySavingExpert – What to do if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills
- Age UK – Warm Home Discount information
- Turn2us – Help with energy bills
- Scope – Disability Energy Support
- Virgin Media O2 – National Databank for anyone in data poverty
Warm spaces in Bradford and Craven
On the Cost of Living Bradford website, there is a map of warm spaces throughout the district. Venues include community centres, libraries and places of worship. To find them, please click on this link: Warm Spaces Directory
The Warm Welcome Campaign’s website lists warm spaces across the country, including the Craven and Bradford areas. Click on this link to search for a warm space near you: Warm Welcome
Please note that some warm spaces will be closed during Sundays and bank holidays.