HOUSEHOLDS can get up to £300 in free cash now to go towards energy bill costs.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842million.
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The money has come from the Government which has distributed it among councils in England.
They then decide how to share their portion of the fund.
That means what you can get depends on where you live, but in most cases help is offered to those on a low income or benefits.
The type of support on offer varies as well – some local authorities are offering out food or utility bill vouchers while others are making bank transfers.
For example, Blackpool Council is offering households either £200 or £300 for help towards energy bills.
Households with up to two people – including children – will get the £200, while those with three or more will receive £300.
To apply to the Household Support Fund applicants must be:
- Over the age of 16 (and paying the bills)
- A Blackpool Council resident (you receive a council tax bill from Blackpool Council)
- Experiencing financial hardship and do not have enough resources to meet your immediate short-term needs
- Not received a Household Support Fund or Energy Bill Support Scheme grant payment in the last 6 months (this does not include the £66/£67 per month payments received between October 2022 and March 2023)
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There is no requirement to be in receipt of Universal Credit or other DWP benefits to apply to this fund.
The money will be paid directly to your energy provider and will come off your bill.
We’ve asked how long it takes from application and will update the piece once we know more.
You can apply online now via the Blackpool Council website here: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Residents/Benefits/Household-support-fund.aspx.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The Household Support Fund was launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid a cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
The help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
Every council will provide the means they feel best suits their area, and not everywhere has re-launched the scheme following its last application round on March 31.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Blackpool?
Yes you can. But what you can get depends on where you live as each council has been given a unique share of the £842million pot.
For example, households in Torridge are in line for payments worth up to £1,000.
The application process varies from area to area too.
The best thing to do is contact your local council to see what help is on offer and if you have to take any action.
You can do this by using the Government’s locator tool found on its website.
But you might want to be quick as competition for the fund is fierce and once a council has depleted its share, there’s no more left.
That said, the Household Support Fund has been extended multiple times since it was first launched in October 2021 so it might be extended again when the current batch closes, in March 2024.
What other help is on offer?
Beyond the Household Support Fund there are three cost of living payments being issued by the Government between now and spring 2024.
They are worth £900, £150-£300 and £150 and eligibility for each is different.
The £900 payment has been split into three instalments of £301, £300 and £299 and is being made to those who receive the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension credit
The first instalment should be paid to over eight million eligible people by May 17.
The second and third are being paid this autumn and in Spring 2024, repsectively.
Meanwhile, the £150-£300 payment is being made to millions of pensioners who qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment. It will be paid this winter.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
