Household Support Fund update
Anyone struggling with paying for essentials like food and energy this winter can get help through the Household Support Fund. A new round opened earlier this month to help as many residents as possible.
£120 payments are available for pensioners, carers and households with people with disabilities this winter.
All other households can get a £60 grant if they are struggling to pay for food, energy or other essentials.
Payments are also available for families where children receive means-tested free school meals. These are £15 per child, per week during the school holidays.
Automatic payments
Payments are already being made automatically to anyone who received a Household Support Grant between April and September 2024.
These are automatically paid six months after the last payment.
Payments for Holiday Food Vouchers, for any households where a child receives means-tested free school meals, are made before each school holiday period.
You do not need to re-apply. Do not contact the organisations involved if you fall into these groups.
New applications
If you need help for the first time this winter and you’re not part of the groups which will be paid automatically, you can apply using the button below.
Get personalised energy advice for your home
With colder temperatures approaching, and energy costs remaining high, now is the ideal time to start thinking about how you can make your home more energy efficient.
You can get help with the best energy options for you, your budget and what's suitable for your home, from our free Home Decarbonisation Advice Service (HDAS).
They can offer practical, impartial energy saving advice to help you make the most of the property you live in.
You can find out if any national or local support schemes are available to you, such as the ECO Flex scheme which offers free, or subsidised, home insulation to qualifying households.
Residents interested in accessing advice from the Home Decarbonisation Advice Scheme can contact our Customer Service team online or call (0118) 974 6000.
Energy Saving Trust advice
Get tips and ideas on how to save money and reduce your carbon footprint from the Energy Saving Trust on common themes including:
Extra help if utility services are interrupted this winter
Register for priority services with your water or energy suppliers in case services are interrupted this winter. It means you'll get extra help or priority if there are disruptions such as power cuts. You could be eligible if you:
- have reached your state pension age
- are disabled or have a long-term medical condition
- are recovering from an injury
- have a hearing or sight condition
- have a mental health condition
- are pregnant or have young children
- have extra communication needs, such as if you don’t speak or read English well
Check if you'd be eligible and contact your suppliers via our website.
Guides to get the help you need
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