Grants and loans
If you're worried about the cost of living, there are different grants and loans available to cover one-off costs or help if you're in financial need. These include help with energy bills, grants if you're disabled and need to make changes to your home, and funeral expenses payments.
Here we explain what these are and how to apply.
On this page
- Winter Fuel Payment/Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
- Cold Weather Payment
- Winter Heating Payment
- Warm Home Discount
- Help with health costs
- Funeral Expenses Payment/Funeral Support Payment
- Disabled Facilities Grants
- Charitable grants
- Parkinson's UK Personal Assistance Grants
- Get more support from our helpline
Winter Fuel Payment / Pension Age Winter Heating Payment
People over pension age in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025 if their taxable income is below £35,000.
People in Scotland who meet this criteria will receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
All pensioners will receive these payments. However, the government will recover the payment from people with a taxable income over £35,000. They'll do this using a tax code which means they pay more tax, equal to the payment amount.
Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment and other disability benefits aren't classed as taxable income.
In 2025, if you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you'll receive a one-off payment of £200 if you were born between 23 September 1945 and 22 September 1959. It will be £300 if you were born before this.
If you're in Scotland you'll receive a one-off payment of £203.40 if you were born between 23 September 1945 and 22 September 1959. It will be £305.10 if you were born before this.
Only 1 payment is made for each household. The payment will be split between the qualifying residents. You don't need to claim for these payments as they're paid automatically.
- If you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can find out more about Winter Fuel Payment on the GOV.UK website. You can also contact the government's Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160.
- If you're in Scotland, you can read more about Pension Age Winter Heating Payment on the myscot.gov website. You can call also call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Cold Weather Payment
If you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and receive 1 of the benefits below, you'll be entitled to Cold Weather Payment (no matter how old you are):
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
You'll receive £25 for each period of cold weather. This means a period of 7 consecutive days where the average temperature is 0°Celsius or below.
You don't need to claim for this payment as it's paid automatically.
You can find out more about Cold Weather Payment on the GOV.UK website.
Winter Heating Payment
If you're in Scotland and entitled to 1 of the benefits below, you'll be entitled to Winter Heating Payment (no matter how old you are):
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
This is a one-off annual payment of £59.75. You don't need to claim for this payment as it's paid automatically.
You can find out more about Winter Heating payment on the myscot.gov website.
Warm Home Discount
If you're in England, Scotland or Wales, you'll automatically qualify for a £150 discount on your electricity or gas bill if your supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount scheme, and you receive:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Jobseeker's Allowance
If you don't get 1 of these benefits, but do get a disability benefit (Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment, for example) you won't automatically get this discount. But your utility company may still choose to offer you support. Ask them how to make a claim.
Your supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money isn't paid to you.
There is no equivalent payment in Northern Ireland.
Contact your energy supplier if you have any queries.
Help with health costs
You can get help with health costs if you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
If you get Universal Credit eligibility criteria apply.
Help includes free prescriptions, eye tests and vouchers for glasses, free dental treatment and help with travel costs to hospital.
If you don't receive these benefits but you have a low income, you may still be able to get some help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme on its website.
Funeral Expenses Payment / Funeral Support Payment
You can get a grant or an interest-free loan (depending on the estate of the person who has died) to help with the costs of a funeral. This is called a Funeral Expenses Payment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a Funeral Support Payment in Scotland.
To get a Funeral Expenses Payment/Funeral Support Payment you or your partner must be getting a means-tested benefit. You must claim within 6 months of the funeral and be 'eligible to be treated as responsible for the costs of the funeral'.
You'll usually be eligible if you're the partner or parent of the deceased, or a close relative or close friend.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the grant will cover funeral expenses up to £1,000 plus costs of purchasing a plot or cremation fees, hearse and some travel costs.
In Scotland, the grant can cover funeral expenses of up to £1,279 plus costs.
Disabled Facilities Grants
You could get a grant from your council if you're disabled and need to make changes to your home, for example to:
- widen doors and install ramps
- improve access to rooms and facilities, for example, installing stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom
- provide a heating system suitable for your needs
- adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use.
To find out more about what's available in your area, check with your council.
You can also visit the GOV.UK page on Disabled Facilities Grants.
Charitable grants
Some charities offer grants to help to people in financial need. Different funds have different aims and eligibility criteria, such as specific locations or particular illnesses or disabilities.
Parkinson's UK Personal Assistance Grants
People with Parkinson's and their unpaid carers can apply for a Parkinson's UK Personal Assistance Grant of up to £1,500.
Our helpline advisers are here for you
Our helpline can support you to understand what financial support is available and make sure you're claiming the money you're entitled to.
Last updated July 2025. If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected].