Food and bills
Help affording essentials
Your everyday essentials come first. You do not need to buy anything to use How Ready. Start with what you already have, take the free steps that work for you, and find support if food or bills are becoming difficult.
If you need food or support now
Contact your council or a support organisation for your nation below. Food banks help with immediate food needs, not with building emergency reserves. Some require a referral; others do not. Ask the provider before travelling about referrals, opening times, transport, accessibility and dietary needs.
An adviser may help you check support entitlements. A council, GP, housing organisation or social worker may be able to help with a food-bank referral. Eligibility and availability differ and help is not guaranteed. How Ready is not a referral service and does not collect your income or assess eligibility.
Free steps, if they work for you
- Check your cupboards and make a note of familiar food you can use without cooking. You do not need to add anything today.
- Write important contacts on paper and agree how you would check in with someone you trust.
- Find and test a torch you already own. Keep useful items somewhere you can reach them.
- Ask your energy and water providers about practical support and help with bills. Use their own contact details.
Financial capacity is not willingness to prepare. There is no affordability score or judgement here, and no need to buy anything or register.
Food to keep at homeEngland
Crisis and Resilience Fund
Ask your local council about the Crisis and Resilience Fund for help with essentials. Council criteria and available help differ; you do not necessarily need to be receiving benefits. Check the current local rules and application process.
Scotland
Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grants
A Crisis Grant may help with emergency food or heating costs. Apply through your local council; eligibility and assessment apply. Mygov.scot also lists urgent food, fuel and money support, while a Citizens Advice Bureau can help you find local food support and advice.
Wales
Discretionary Assistance Fund
The Discretionary Assistance Fund offers emergency assistance for essentials, subject to eligibility and assessment. Emergency Assistance Payments are not for ongoing bills. Follow the Welsh Government's current application rules; Citizens Advice Wales can help you find food-bank and council support.
Northern Ireland
Discretionary Support
Discretionary Support may help with short-term living costs in an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation. Depending on your circumstances, support can be a grant you do not repay or an interest-free loan you must repay. Eligibility, limits and repayment rules apply. NI Direct explains how to contact Finance Support; ask them or your council about local food support if you need food now.
Practical support from providers
Priority Services Registers in Great Britain and care registers in Northern Ireland may provide practical support. They are not grants and do not guarantee supplies or priority restoration. Contact each relevant energy, network or water provider about its arrangements; if the need is urgent, contact the provider directly.
Extra support and provider registersSources and scope
Sources checked 24 October 2026. UK general signposting, not benefits, debt or eligibility advice. Nation-specific official and Citizens Advice sources are linked in each section; free household planning steps draw on Be Ready. Provider-register sources are listed on our resources page. Check current official rules with the organisation before applying.