Make Life Better
Maximising incomes for financially vulnerable households in fuel poverty
Our project at a glance
- GDN partners: Cadent and SGN
- Strategic priority area: Fuel poverty and energy affordability
- Support target: 332 households over 15 months
- Duration: January 2025 to March 2026
- Investment: £100,000 over 15 months
- Forecast SROI: £31.50
Benefits can be really confusing, but I’m so glad I have your help! I just wish you were closer so I could bake you a cake – I’ll be sending pictures of the ones I’ve made instead!
Make Life Better beneficiary
Why we’re working together
In the UK, the total amount of unclaimed benefits has reached £22.7 billion per year. Around 8.4 million people could be missing out on an average of £2,700 per year.
Maximising household income is a key to lifting households out of fuel poverty. But for many households in fuel poverty, accessing benefits and claiming their entitlement is a real challenge.
Together with fellow gas network Cadent, we’ve partnered with Make Life Better to help financially vulnerable households across the south of England and the Midlands get the money they are meant to have.
Following an assessment through the online tool IE Hub, we’re linking the most financially vulnerable customers within our network areas to Make Life Better for in-depth support to apply for benefits, tariffs and grants to maintain a safe and warm home.
Project objectives
- Assisting households with comprehensive support to claim their benefit entitlement
- Providing households with other income maximisation support, including grants and energy tariff entitlements
How we’re working together
In-depth income maximisation support
Financially vulnerable households are referred to the Make Life Better team once they’ve completed an initial assessment through the online IE Hub too. The free tool helps customers with energy debt and income maximisation based on their unique financial circumstances.
Those identified as the most vulnerable, who may find it challenging to apply for new tariffs, grants, and benefits, are referred for in-depth support from the Make Life Better team. These households receive assistance throughout the entire process of identifying, claiming and receiving their full benefit entitlement.
How to get involved
Accessing support from Make Life Better
As one of our VCMA network partners, you can refer financially vulnerable households for support by making an online digital referral through IE Hub.
When a household completes their budget and IE Hub identifies they're missing out on £200 or more in benefits each month, IE Hub will contact them and give them the opportunity to book an appointment with Make Life Better.
If you’re struggling to afford to keep your home safe and warm, you can use the free online IE hub tool to help manage your money and find any unclaimed benefits you might be entitled to.
Becoming a Make Life Better partner
You can find out more about partnering with Make Life Better on the organisation’s website.
Our partnership with SGN shows how businesses can do more than just meet regulations – they can actively change lives. Through partnering with Make Life Better, SGN is helping families access the benefits, grants and discounts they deserve, often adding thousands of pounds to their household income. This is real, measurable change that keeps families warm, safe, and hopeful about the future.