Cost of living help - support for our communities
Across the country, people are struggling with the cost of living. Food and household bills continue to rise, alongside fuel prices, at the fastest rate seen in forty years.
Salary and benefit increases are not keeping pace with rising prices, so buying things and paying bills gets harder, especially for those on the lowest incomes.
This all comes at a time when local NHS and care services are already under enormous pressure with growing waiting lists for hospital and community care treatments.
How does the cost of living crisis affect people’s health and wellbeing?
There are several ways that the rising cost of living can affect people’s health.
- Being unable to afford a healthy diet leaves people malnourished.
- Being unable to keep a home warm leaves people at risk of developing serious health problems with an increased risk of death for those who are most vulnerable.
- Always worrying about having enough money to pay bills or buy food can also lead to stress, anxiety and depression.
Lower income families are most at risk from a higher cost of living because they have less money to spend in the first place. They are also more at risk of poor health – nearly half (48%) of the poorest 40% of families in the UK contain at least one person with poor health.
If you feel that your physical or mental health is being affected by financial stresses, you should speak with your GP.
Share your experience
Has the increasing cost of living meant that you've needed to make choices that affect yours or your family’s health and wellbeing, such as choices about what you eat or how you heat your home?
Or has it affected your ability to access NHS and social care services, such as travel to appointments?
Support in your community
Part of our role here at Healthwatch is to highlight the available local support and services that are there to protect the wellbeing and health of local people, from money advice and energy saving tips, to food banks and mental health support.
Cambridgeshire County Council
Your local authority can signpost you to advice to help you make your money go further, from accessing grants to debt advice and support getting all the money that you’re entitled to.
They can also let you know more about the government’s recent support measures and how to access anything you may be entitled to.
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/communities-localism/support-with-the-cost-of-living
City and district councils
City and district councils are sharing information on additional support and resources available in your local community.
South Cambs District Council
www.scambs.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/
East Cambs District Council
www.eastcambs.gov.uk/cost-living/cost-living
Fenland District Council
www.fenland.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport
Huntingdonshire District Council
www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/people-communities/helping-hand/
Cambridge City Council
www.cambridge.gov.uk/cost-of-living-help
Household Support Fund
Age UK Cambs & Peterborough has been commissioned to administer the Household Support Fund.
Mental health support
We know that many people are feeling the strain as the cost of living continues to increase.
Money worries can cause increased anxiety, depression and feelings of shame with people not always knowing where to turn for advice says national charity - Mental Health UK on their advice website.
www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/
Even if you are not sure whether or not you have a specific mental health problem, it's important to seek help as this will play an important part towards getting and staying well.
Find out about local mental health suppport
Get help with NHS prescriptions and health costs
You might be able to get free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and help with other NHS costs.
Whether you get help depends on things such as your income, whether you have a particular medical condition, how old you are, if you’re pregnant or if you are on certain benefits.
Find out how to get help with NHS costs
Help with travelling to medical appointments
There are lots of reasons why you might not be able to get to NHS services easily for non-emergency issues. For example, we often hear from people who are physically unable to travel, can’t afford transport, or live in a rural area.
Here, we provide some information about the support available to help make this easier for you.
Can we help you?
Not sure what your options are? Get in touch with our Information Service and we will put you in touch with services and support organisations that can help.
Looking after your health
Be Well in Cambridgeshire has lots of information and advice on how to stay well this Winter.
