Cost of living support

If you are worried about your finances and how you are going to make ends meet, there is help available. Please find below links to some of the support available to the residents of Milton Keynes. Read our cost of living help factsheet. Cabinet has agreed a Winter Plan with a £3.3m package of support made of City Council funds and Government grants.

  Help with paying your rent and Council Tax

• Housing Benefit and Council Tax reduction – Make a new claim for Council Tax Reduction or report a change in circumstances
• Discretionary Council Tax Reduction Scheme – MKC funded to provide additional support to those experiencing financial hardship.
• Discretionary Housing Payments – An additional payment to individuals on Housing Benefit that are struggling to meet a shortfall in their rent.
• Working Tenant Support Fund - If you are a working tenant (in a Milton Keynes City Council owned property) in a financial crisis, not entitled to assistance with rental costs, we may be able to provide assistance. Please claim through our Local Welfare Provision to see if you qualify

Additional reduction in council tax

Residents who receive a reduction in the council tax they are asked to pay are now entitled to further reduction of up to £25 for the 2023-24 financial year. We will award this automatically.

Applying for government help with energy costs

In December 2022, Government announced that it would be providing a £200 payment for households that use alternative fuels like heating oil, and a £400 payment for households who do not have a direct relationship to an energy provider, such as care home or and park home residents. Most households will get this money automatically, however you may need to apply depending on your circumstances.

You cannot apply through Milton Keynes City Council so please don’t contact us. Instead, apply via the Government website at www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic

Here's a summary of the help available from the government to meet energy costs 

We have a data sharing agreement with the department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) so that we can share your personal data during the processing of your application. The sharing of the data between local authorities and BEIS is for the purpose of administration, delivery, reporting, monitoring, evaluation and fraud prevention necessary within the scheme. This may also include an assessment of your liability for Council Tax on the property you have stated as your sole and main residence on the application.

Help with essential costs including food and energy  

• Local Welfare Provision – MKC funded to provide essential support in the event of an emergency
• Food Bank - The provision of food, fuel, and small essential items, mostly in partnership with voluntary and charity groups
• SOFEA - support with food through community larders,  as well as wellbeing support.
• Household Support Fund - Support with food and energy costs.

NEF WARMTH AND WELLBEING HELPLINE – Freephone 0800 107 0044 Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm

Offering advice to people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Local people can call National Energy Foundation’s Better Housing Better Health team, who will explain how to get better energy deals, and how to apply for insulation and energy efficiency grants.

Other Government support

There are benefits you may be entitled to if your income is low or has gone down. 

• Universal Credit – tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Read more on the GOV.UK Universal Credit web page.

• Job Seekers Allowance – tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Read more on the GOV.UK Job Seeker’s Allowance web page.

• Income Support – tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Read more on the GOV.UK Income Support web page.

• Employment and Support Allowance – tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Read more on the GOV.UK Employment Support web page.

• Pension Credit – tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Read more on the GOV.UK Pension Credit web page.

• Tax Credits – tell Her Majesties Revenues & Customs (HMRC). Read more on the GOV.UK Report Changes that Affect your Tax Credits web page.

Benefits calculator

Not on benefits or need to apply for another benefit

If you are not already receiving a benefit, the first thing you should do is make a new claim. Use the benefit calculator to work out which benefit you should claim.

You can also use this link if you are already receiving a benefit but wish to know if you should claim another benefit, such as Universal Credit.