Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Financial support

Beginning on 5 January the Government placed England in National Lockdown

COVID-19 restrictions in Kirklees tells you more about what this means.

Exceptional Hardship Grants and Test and Trace support payments

Local Welfare Provision

Local Welfare Provision offers help for vulnerable people in short-term crisis with food, benefits, fuel costs and COVID-19 assistance. You may be eligible for an Exceptional Hardship Grant. If food is required it usually arrives the same day or the next working day.

Apply for a Test and Trace support payment

You may be entitled to a Test and Trace support payment if you are isolating because you have been contacted by Test and Trace.

Council Tax

If you can still afford to pay your Council Tax, it is more important than ever that you continue to pay your bill. If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax or any other bills due to the impact of coronavirus, there is support available.

  • Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction
    You may be eligible for Council Tax Reduction, which is a discount for working age people. It reduces the amount of Council Tax you pay. The size of the discount you receive depends on your income and household size.

    • If you already receive Council Tax Reduction you will receive an additional reduction, up to £150.00, towards your total Council Tax bill. You don't need to do anything, we will deduct this automatically from your Council Tax bill.
    • If you do not receive Council Tax Reduction and your circumstances have changed due to the coronavirus you can apply for it.
  • Council Tax support
    If you are struggling to pay your bill, please get in touch with the Council Tax Team so that we can make sure you are getting all the support you are entitled to.

    • Email
    • We can check your Council Tax charge is correct, find out if you are due any discounts or exemptions and agree an alternative payment plan.
    • We can also look at your arrears so that we consider everything you owe to us and avoid any extra costs or charges.

Benefits

Make sure you have claimed all the benefits you are entitled to. For working age families, this could be Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Statutory Sick Pay.

  • Better Off Kirklees
    Shows what benefits you are entitled to - such as Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Statutory Sick Pay - and helps you apply for them online. Also advises how to find and apply for jobs.
  • How to claim universal credit
    This is a monthly payment to help with your living costs. You may be able to get it if you're aged 18 or over, on a low income or out of work. You may also be eligible if:
    • Phone 0800 328 5644 if you can't apply for Universal Credit online, or have a question about your new claim

Help with school

  • Free school meals
    The voucher system will be in place as normal for future school holidays for children who normally receive them during school time.
  • Other food support and help
  • Free school uniforms
    Uniform Exchange are providing free school uniforms.
  • Get help with technology
    Parents, carers and pupils cannot apply for laptops, tablets or internet access. You should contact your school for help accessing remote education.

Debt and financial advice

Business support

Help for businesses and self-employed

There are business support grants for businesses forced to close or severely impacted due to local restrictions or national lockdown, and and income support grant for the self-employed.

Housing advice

Risk of homelessness

Get in touch with COVID-19 Community Response if you need support:

COVID-19 Community Response

Tips and advice on managing mental health concerns:

Mental health support in a crisis
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