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The council is urging residents to take advantage of the support services offered, including a dedicated website and leaflet aimed at easing the burden on households.

The dedicated website, www.npt.gov.uk/CostOfLivingHelp serves as a one-stop resource, guiding residents on various aspects of financial assistance, including:

• Claiming Benefits: Assisting residents in navigating the complexities of benefit claims, ensuring they receive the support they are entitled to.
• Household Bills: Providing guidance on managing and reducing household bills, including details on social tariffs (cheaper broadband and mobile phone packages)
• Money & Debt: Signposting to advice on managing finances and tackling debt.
• Childcare Costs: Help to ease the financial strain of childcare including schemes such as the Childcare Offer for Wales, Flying Start and tax-free childcare.
• Education and School Costs: Support to alleviate the burden of education-related expenses, ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial constraints.
• Finding Work: Connecting job seekers with employment opportunities and training

Details of Neath Port Talbot Council’s £2 million pound Hardship Relief Scheme, delivered in partnership with Warm Wales, can also be found on the website. The scheme is aimed at supporting local residents most in need to ensure their homes are heated more efficiently as well as measures to help with paying energy bills. This could include support with things such as energy bills, boiler services, utility bill arrears, minor home repairs such as broken windows, and small measures for home warmth (e.g. electric blankets).

Plus, the website contains a directory of Warm Spaces, which helps residents find public spaces or buildings they can use to keep warm and safe, and where they are also likely to find things like free Wi-Fi, toilet facilities and refreshments.

The Help with the Cost of Living leaflet contains all of the information held on the website along with direct telephone phone numbers to each support service for those who are not online.

Councillor Simon Knoyle, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice, said: "Our community is at the heart of everything we do.

“With many people still struggling with the cost of living, Neath Port Talbot Council is committed to ensuring that our residents have access to the essential support they need.

“We encourage every resident facing financial challenges to utilise the support available which can be found on our dedicated Help with the Cost of Living webpage.”

Visit www.npt.gov.uk/CostOfLivingHelp to find out more. For those who are not online, leaflets are available at local libraries and civic centres across Neath Port Talbot.