Cost of living support

Paying for your gas, electricity and water

Find out what support is available to help you pay for or reduce your electricity, gas and water bills.

Apply for a hardship prevention payment

You may be able to get up to £900 if you are in financial hardship and you do not have enough money for basics like food, gas or electricity.

Help for families with children

Find out how you can get help with childcare costs, school meals and financial support with baby costs.

Help with food

Ideas on how to make meals go further and information on local food banks and community kitchens.

Get help with your broadband and phone packages

Ideas and support available to help you reduce your broadband and phone costs.

Improve the energy efficiency of your home

Find out how you can save money by making your home more energy efficient.

Paying your rent or mortgage

Support and advice if you are struggling to pay your rent or mortgage.

Benefits and money advice

Find out about benefits you could be entitled to and how to get extra support in a crisis.

Help with council tax

Find out if you can get help with paying your council tax.

Employment and training

Make the most of our learning and employment services to find local job and training opportunities.

Free and discounted travel options

Find out if you're eligible for free and discounted travel on TfL services.

Financial help if you are disabled

Visit GOV.UK to find out about the wide range of disability-related financial support available.

Frequently asked questions

FAQs about the support available from the council.

Contact us

How to contact the cost-of-living and welfare benefits team.

Cost-of-living support team

If you are a resident of Hammersmith & Fulham, the cost-of-living support team can help you to access support for the cost-of-living. The team can provide guidance and advice on services and support across the council and voluntary sector.

You can:

get a fast response by sending us a message using our cost-of-living enquiry form.
contact us on our free phone number 0800 917 6994. The line is open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
visit us at 145 King Street in Hammersmith, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
email us at costoflivingteam@lbhf.gov.uk .

The cost-of-living helpline will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Opening hours on other days over the holiday are 9am to 5pm on 24, 27, 30, 31 December and 2, 3 January 2025. The walk in service will not be available at 145 King Street between 25 December and 1 January.

Or use our web assistant to help you find the information you need. You can ask for help from an advisor during office hours. See the speech icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Welfare benefits team

Council tenants can contact the welfare benefits team by phone on 020 8753 5566 or email welfare.benefit@lbhf.gov.uk

Beware of loan sharks

At this difficult time, we're aware that vulnerable residents are being offered loans at astronomical rates of interest.

You can report loan sharks to the Illegal Money Lending Team, organised by Trading Standards. Please do not let them prey on you or your loved ones.

For more details, visit Stop the Loan Sharks.

The website provides information on how loan sharks work and will help you avoid them – especially as some masquerade as friends.

Help for Households campaign

Help for Households - Get government cost-of-living support

Cost of Living Payments

For guidance on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living if you're entitled to certain benefits or tax credits see Cost of Living Payments (GOV.UK).

Do you live in Hammersmith & Fulham? If so, you can get advice on how to claim these benefits. Please call our cost-of-living crisis team on 0800 917 6994.

Cost-of-living guide

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Our latest Cost-of-Living crisis booklet will be distributed to all schools, libaries, GPs offices and local charity partners. It is packed with details about the help and support available - including from our dedicated team.

Read the booklet here on Yumpu.com

You can translate our plain text version of the H&F Cost-of-Living guide into more than 100 different languages.

Mencap has produced easy read guidance explaining the cost of living crisis.

What is the cost of living crisis - easy read (PDF, 1.11MB)

Cost-of-living support