MILLIONS of households are facing higher energy bills but many could get extra help to cover the rising cost.
And people on prepayment meters could get help topping up too.
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Gas and electric bills have rocketed by hundreds of pounds and are expected to go even higher this winter.
Martin Lewis has warned that billpayers face forking out nearly £1,000 extra in October when the price cap rises next.
To help people cover the cost of higher energy bills councils are giving out free cash help.
It comes from the Household Support Fund which is a £500million pot of cash from the government.
The money is being given out according to each area’s size and need and then local authorities are handing the cash to those who need it.
For instance in Rotherham the most hard-up households can now apply for up to £400.
Residents can make a claim for cash from the Energy Crisis Support Scheme, whether they are in work or not.
grants of £250 are being given out or a higher amount of £400 for pensioners.
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You’ll need to show that you have no more than £150 a month left over after paying for essential costs like food, rent or mortgage and utility bills.
And you’ll need to provide information like recent bank statements and bills to show this.
Anyone living in Rotherham can apply if they are eligible here – and those elsewhere can access similar support where they are.
How do I apply for help?
Each council has been given a pot of cash to give out, though the exact help you can get, including how much and who is eligible can vary.
For instance in North Yorkshire there’s £150 free supermarket vouchers for food and essentials being given out.
And Reading Council is giving its own pensioners energy vouchers worth £98, as well as families in the area a sum of £49 to help cover similar costs.
Eligible residents Norfolk can get £120 in food vouchers to cover meals for kids too, thanks to the council’s latest hand-out.
There’s £180 in support on offer for those living in Cornwall, and parents in Brighton and Hove could get £105 to cover essentials over the school breaks coming up this year.
Residents in Blackpool can get as much as £300, depending on their circumstances.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you’ve found your council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding on its website.
Each council will have a different application process – so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary – it’s best to check with your local council for more details.
If there’s no information on your council’s website, then its best to ring them up and ask for more information.
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