The cost of living has increased, with housing, energy, and food costs higher than many people can afford. At Flexicare, we know that having a disabled child in the family brings all sorts of changes to family life as everyone is affected by the extra responsibility and the additional financial cost.

We have found some information, advice, tools, and links that we hope you find useful.

Applying for benefits

Many people do not apply for the benefits they are already entitled to and receiving these could make a real difference to their income. There are currently some special measures and rule changes for benefits to help people during the current situation.

You can check what benefits you may be entitled to using this Benefits Calculator by Turn 2 Us

Discover what’s available nationally and in your local area by https://www.disability-grants.org/

Foodbanks

SOFEA run 30 food larders across parts of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire/ Milton Keynes Find the full SOFEA list with opening times here

Trussell Trust run well over 400 foodbanks across the UK. Your local foodbank can be found at: Oxford foodhub

Here is the link to the map produced by Oxford City Council of all the food resources they know of in the county: https://foodmap.goodfoodoxford.org/

If you are in Oxford, Mutual Aid will provide food parcels without question, now only for same day emergencies but they will put you on a waiting list to receive regular parcels when they have capacity.  They also run a kitchen collective that provides hot meals, particularly in the holidays, for children that receive free school meals: https://oxfordmutualaid.org/support/

Energy at home

Top five energy consuming home appliances https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/top-five-energy-consuming-home-appliances/

Information from Gov.uk including grants, energy saving and renewable energy for your home  https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services/household-energy

Money worries and dealing with priority debt

Sources of help

Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Step change www.stepchange.org

Money advice service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk