THOUSANDS of households can apply for a free £500 grant towards their energy and water costs from TODAY.
Families can claim the cash through the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is distributed by local councils to help with the cost of living.
The HSF is a pot of money shared between councils in England who then decide how to distribute it among those living in their areas.
That means what you are entitled is a postcode lottery, dependant on the terms set by your local authority.
Councils in England are now distributing the latest round of funding, which amounts to £421million.
Local authorities have until April 2025 to distribute the cash and each will set its own eligibility criteria.
While this means access varies, if you have a limited amount of money or savings, or are deemed to be vulnerable or on benefits, you will probably qualify for help.
Worcestershire County Council is offering households grants of up to £500 to help with utility costs.
The funding can be used to pay for electricity, gas, water, oil or solid fuels.
Households with children under the age of 18 (or 21 if in full-time education) can receive up to £500, while adult households will be eligible for up to £300.
The scheme is open to Worcestershire residents with a household income of £31,000 or less a year, including non-means tested benefits.
Alternatively the support is available to households where someone had a vulnerability and receives means-tested benefits and has no, or limited, savings.
The grants are paid either by direct transfer to utility providers or via Post Office vouchers for pre-payment top ups.
The council is also offering support with energy debt and with repairing or servicing heating systems.
It’s not energy costs councils are offering support with this winter.
Those living in Derby could be eligible for financial support in the form of supermarket food vouchers – worth as much as £125 – if their household has children under the age of 19.
Multiple adult households can claim a food voucher worth £75, while an eligible single adult household can claim £50.
Derby City Council is also using its funding to help struggling residents by offering energy grants, but the amount each household can get is unspecified and depends on individual circumstances.
Many councils are also offering support to pensioners after access to the winter fuel payment was scaled back in October’s budget.
Milton Keynes City Council is among those offering energy vouchers to struggling households.
The council said it will assess applicants on a “case by case” basis, but people who are just missing out on the winter fuel payment will receive help worth up to £300.
Coventry Council is also offering energy grants of up to £120 for single people or childless couples, and £160 for families.
Meanwhile Medway Council is also providing help. It will give electronic energy cards to the value of £100 to those in demonstrable hardship, with less than £500 in their bank accounts.
Every council will receive funding from the HSF, so if you’re worried about making ends meet, check your local authority’s website for further details.
To find your local council, use the Government’s council locator tool.
Households in need can claim support to help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund.
The funding is supplied from a £421million pot by the Department for Work and Pensions.
It was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times.
Councils up and down the country get a portion of the cash to allocate to vulnerable households.
Get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
The help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or to cover costs of your weekly grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
You also do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.
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