Cost of living crisis

We know that many families and young people are worried about the current cost of living crisis and are concerned about the impact of rising prices. If you or someone you know is struggling financially, it’s important for you to get all the financial support you’re eligible for.

We have lots of information about the range of disability and welfare benefits and grants you may be eligible for as a deaf young person or parent, carer or guardian of a deaf child. As well as other sources of financial support you may be able to get if you’re a fulltime student, carer or deaf young person struggling to work. You can also contact our free Helpline for information, advice and support or to sign up for a virtual benefits appointment.

Energy Price Guarantee

On 8 September 2022, the Government announced it's Energy Price Guarantee. This is automatic, applies to all households and has been extended to the end of June 2023. This Guarantee will mean a typical household in Great Britain will pay up to an average of £2,500 a year on their energy bill. In Northern Ireland a typical household will pay up to an average of £2,109 per year.

Find out more about the limit on how much you will pay for gas or electricity in the Government's energy bill support factsheet.

The Priority Services Register

If you or your deaf child have additional needs and need to use medical equipment that requires a power supply, you can contact your energy supplier to join the Priority Services Register. This will make sure that your power won't be turned off.

Disability cost of living payment

To help with increasing energy costs, the Government have announced a second £150 disability cost of living payment. This includes Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or a Scottish Disability Payment (Child or Adult). It will be automatically paid in summer 2023, and you don’t need to apply for it.

The government will update their guidance with the qualifying date (date you have to be receiving a disability benefit on to get the cost of living payment) for the payment when it has been announced. If you think you should have received a disability cost of living payment but you haven't had it yet, you can report a missing cost of living payment.

Mental health

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. If you’re struggling with money or are stressed about your upcoming financial situation, you can talk to your GP about how this is affecting you or get support from organisations like Mind.

See below for more information and advice on how to get help with the cost of living.

Organisations that can help

General information

• Citizens Advice information (find your nearest Citizens Advice in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) 
• Leonard Cheshire information
• Mencap information
• Contact information
• Sense and National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) research: Complex disabilities and the cost of living crisis
• Sense blog

Benefits and grants

• Turn2Us
• EntitledTo
• Lightning Reach grant platform
• School uniform grants in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
• StepChange debt charity

Energy and bills

• Energy Bills Support Scheme
• Ofgem information
• National Energy Action (NEA) the UK's national fuel poverty charity
• British Gas Energy Trust
• Energy saving grants from Disability Grants
• Scope’s Disability Energy Support
• Scope’s information on the Priority Services Register

Food

• Find a local food bank with Trussell Trust
• How to use a food bank (Citizen’s Advice)

Campaigns

• Leonard Cheshire’s campaign calling the government to increase benefits to reflect the rising cost of living
• Enough is Enough campaign