Can I get help with prescription costs?
In England, you may get free prescriptions or help with prescription costs depending on your circumstances. You can check if you can get help with prescription costs on the NHS website. It should only take a few minutes.
The prescription charge in England is £9.90 per item. If you’re struggling to pay for your prescription, speak to your GP. They may be able to offer support or explore alternative treatment options that are more affordable.
All prescriptions are free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Save money with prepayment certificates (PPC)
You can save money by buying a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). Once you have a PPC, all your prescriptions will be covered during its time period, no matter how many you need. There are two options to choose from:
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A 3-month PPC will save you money if you normally order more than three prescriptions in three months. The cost is £32.05.
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A 12-month PPC will save you money if you normally order more than 11 prescriptions in a year. The cost is £114.50. You can pay for this in 10 instalments.
You can buy a PPC online, or you can call 0300 330 1341 to buy one over the phone.
Can I get help with heating costs?
If you have a lung condition, you’ll know how important it is to stay warm in the winter. There's support available if you’re struggling to heat your home:
Warm hubs
Warm hubs are heated areas that some local councils have set up in public buildings, like libraries and community centres. You can spend time in these areas for free to keep warm and meet other people in your local community.
Use the Warm Welcome Spaces website to find warm hubs near you.
Your local council can give you more information about Warm Hubs.
Cold weather payments
Cold weather payments are paid when the average temperature in your area falls, or is forecast to fall, to zero degrees Celsius or below for seven days in a row.
You’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 2026 and March 2027.
These payments are usually made to people on the following benefits:
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Pension Credit
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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Universal Credit
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Support for Mortgage Interest.
The government has more information about cold weather payments.
The Cold Weather Payment is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Find out if you’re eligible on the government website.
Winter Heating Payment in Scotland
If you live in Scotland, you can get a Winter Heating Payment instead of the Cold Weather Payment.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme gives you a one-off discount on your winter electricity bill.
The money will not be paid directly to you. If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill between October 2026 and March 2027.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme is available in England, Wales and Scotland. There are different ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme depending on where you live. Find out if you are eligible on the government website.
Affordable Warmth Scheme in Northern Ireland
If you live in Northern Ireland, you will need to apply for the Affordable Warmth Scheme. You will not be eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
The Northern Ireland government also offer support if you have difficulty paying your fuel bills:
You can also contact the NI Energy advice line. They can tell you what help you could be entitled to.
Help with home energy saving improvements
If you’re eligible and live in England, the Warm Homes: Local Grant can support you to make free home energy-saving improvements. They may suggest wall, loft or underfloor insulation, smart meters or solar panels.
If you’re eligible and live in Wales, the Warm Homes Nest scheme can support you to make free home energy saving improvements. This could include a heat pump, insulation and solar panels.
You could be eligible if you meet the following conditions:
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you own or privately rent your home
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your home is expensive to heat and is not energy-efficient
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you or someone you live with receives a means-tested benefit, or has a chronic respiratory, circulatory, or mental health condition and an income below the threshold.
If you’re eligible and live in Scotland, the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme can support you to make free home energy improvements.
The Scottish government also offer support if you have difficulty paying your fuel bills or keeping your home warm. Find out how you could get help with energy bills.
You can also get help and support from Home Energy Scotland.
The Priority Services Register
The Priority Services Register is a free support service for people who may be vulnerable if their electricity, gas or water is interrupted.
You’ll be eligible for extra support from your energy supplier if you have a disability or long-term medical condition. This includes if you use medical equipment in your home that needs electricity to work, such as oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, or nebulisers.
Being on the Priority Services Register means:
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you’ll be told about planned power cuts
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you’ll get priority support in an emergency. For example, your supplier may provide heating and cooking facilities if your power is cut off
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you can get help with taking meter readings
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you can ask for information in different formats, such as large print or braille.
You may also be eligible for free gas safety checks.
All energy suppliers offer it. You can contact your energy supplier to get on the register. Find out who your energy supplier is.
Ofgem has more information about the Priority Services Register.
Prepayment meters (PPMs)
Prepayment meters (PPMs) or pay as you go meters must be topped up, which means paying for the energy you use in advance. Although UK energy suppliers can install PPMs without your permission, they cannot do this if you’re high-risk.
You may be high-risk if:
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your medication needs to be kept in the fridge
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you rely on carelines and wellbeing alarms
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you have a chronic, severe or life-limiting health condition
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your home needs to be kept warm because of your health condition
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you're over 75 years old and have no household support
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you rely on electric medical equipment at home, such as ventilators and stair lifts.
Ofgem’s current guidance is unclear about which lung conditions make somebody high-risk. We believe that everybody with a lung condition should be considered high-risk.
If you’re feeling unsure about whether you would be considered high-risk, call us on our helpline for advice and support. Find out more about prepayment meters.
More help with heating costs
If you were born before 28 June 1960, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2026 to 2027. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. Find out more about Winter Fuel Payments.
If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, Citizens Advice has more information about grants and support. Money Saving Expert also has helpful tips about saving energy in your home.
Can I get help buying food?
Eating a healthy diet is important if you have a lung condition. There's help available if you’re struggling to pay for food.
Food banks
Food banks are community organisations that help you if you cannot afford food or other essential items, like toiletries and cleaning products.
They will give you a food parcel at the food bank. Some food banks offer additional support, like debt advice, mental health support and benefits guidance.
Your local council should be able to tell you about the food banks in your area.
Many independent food banks are open to anybody who needs them. You do not need a referral to use their services. If your nearest food bank asks for a referral, you can get one from a GP, social worker, housing association or Citizens Advice.
Citizens Advice has more information about getting a referral to a food bank.
FoodCycle
In England and Wales, FoodCycle offers free hot meals to people who need them.
Everybody can use FoodCycle. It’s not based on how much money you have, and you do not need to be referred.
Find out how to get a FoodCycle meal.
Food waste apps
There are some apps you can download on your phone where you can get free or very cheap food that would otherwise go to waste. Everybody can use these apps. They are not based on how much money you have.
On the Too Good To Go app, you can pick up ‘surprise bags’ from local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. They usually cost between £2 and £6 and are filled with leftover food that is still good to eat.
You can also get unwanted groceries and household items from your neighbours on the app Olio. The app has volunteers who collect food from supermarkets and cafes and give it out for free.
Government schemes
If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and you’re pregnant or caring for a child under four years old, you might be able to join the Healthy Start scheme. This scheme gives you money to buy milk, baby formula, vegetables and vitamins.
If you live in Scotland, there’s a similar scheme called Best Starts Foods Card for children under three years old.
More help with food costs
Money Saving Expert has tips on how you can get more free or cheap food.
Money Helper has information about eating healthy on a budget.
Some supermarkets are also offering discounts and free food to children and people over the age of 60.
Financial help from your local council
Your local council might help you pay for things like:
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your energy and water bills
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food
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essential items, like clothing
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housing costs.
This help is sometimes called the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Every council runs a different scheme. You should ask your local council what you’re entitled to.
You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council. If you do get benefits, they should not be affected by any help you get from your local council.
Use the government website to find your local council.
Council Tax Reduction
Council Tax Reduction is a benefit which helps you pay your council tax. You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim other benefits. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed, or working.
Find out more about council tax reductions in England, Wales and Scotland..
Find out more about council tax reductions in Northern Ireland.
Transport schemes
Your lung condition might affect how you travel. You could get help with the cost of transport.
Blue Badge
You can apply for a Blue Badge if you’re disabled or have a health condition that affects your mobility.
If you have a Blue Badge, you can park in places that other drivers cannot. For example, you can use disabled parking bays to park closer to your destination, either as a passenger or driver.
Public transport discounts
If your lung condition makes it hard for you to get around, you can apply for discounts on public transport. You could get free travel on buses and a 30% discount on train tickets.
Citizens Advice has more information public transport discounts.
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
If your healthcare professional refers you to a hospital or NHS service for specialist treatment or tests, you may be able to claim a refund for your travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
Use the NHS website to find out if you can use the HTCS.
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) discounts and exemptions
If you’re an NHS patient and are too ill to travel to an appointment on public transport, you may be eligible to claim back the ULEZ charge and Congestion Charge. Your hospital can tell you if you’re eligible.
Transport for London is also offering temporary ULEZ exemptions to people with wheelchair-accessible vehicles and people who receive certain disability benefits until 24 October 2027.
Transport for London has more information about ULEZ discounts and exemptions.
Charitable grants
A grant is financial help given by charitable organisations to people in need. Grants can be money, products or services. Charitable grants do not have to be paid back. You can normally get help from charitable grants even if you're not eligible for welfare benefits.
Use Turn2Us’s website to search for charitable grants.
How we develop our health information
About our health information
All our information is reviewed and updated by Asthma + Lung UK’s experienced Health Advice Team. People living with lung conditions, qualified healthcare professionals and specialists also review our content.
Our information is based on the latest, trustworthy evidence and guidelines. Below is a sample list of the sources referenced in our financial help information.
- NHS. Who can get free prescriptions. Accessed: May 2026
- GOV.Wales. Free prescriptions. Published: September 2020
- Scottish Government. Healthcare costs. Accessed: May 2026
- Nidirect. Prescriptions. Accessed: May 2026
- GOV.UK. Cold Weather Payment. Eligibility. Accessed: May 2026
- GOV.UK. Get help with the cost of living from your local council. Accessed: May 2026
If you'd like a full list of the sources we've used to produce our health information, you can email us at healthadvicequeries@asthmaandlung.org.uk.
Get support
Call or email our helpline for support with any aspect of living with a lung condition – whether you need practical advice, emotional support, or answers to health-related questions. You can also find support through our groups.
