Worcestershire County Council is issuing the help as part of the Household Support Fund, which is a pot of cash that is used by local councils to provide tailored support to residents
Thousands of households can get £500 of free cash to help pay their energy or water bill.
Worcestershire County Council is issuing the help as part of the Household Support Fund. This is a pot of cash that is used by local councils to provide tailored support to residents – for example, you could get a one-off payment or vouchers for energy and water.
In order to be eligible for help through Worcestershire County Council, you must be a local resident and earn £31,000 or less a year. You will also be able to claim the support if someone in your household claims one of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carers Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Health Allowance
If you live in a households with adults only, aged between 18 and 66, you could get up to £300 in support. If you have children under the age of 18, or young adults up to the age of 21 in full time education, you could get up to £500.
The payments will be made directly to your energy supplier, or if you’re a prepayment customer, you’ll get vouchers to redeem at the Post Office. The Household Support Fund was due to end on September 30, 2024 but it has been extended for an additional six months, until March 31, 2025, after another £421million was allocated to the scheme. If you’re not a Wealden resident, it is worth checking the website of your local council to see what help it could potentially offer you.
For example, Wealden District Council is giving households a one-off payment of £175 if they missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment. You must be in receipt of either Universal Credit that also includes the Housing Costs element, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. You will also be eligible if you get a SEMI exemption and would otherwise get Council Tax Reduction.
Solihull residents can also get free help worth £500 to pay off water and energy debts. You must live in Solihull, have a combined annual household income of under £31,000, have no household savings, except for if you’re a pensioner, then you can have up to £5,000 in savings. You must have someone living in the household with a vulnerability and be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Blackpool Council is giving payments of up to £300 to households, paid directly to your energy or water supplier. This will appear as a credit on your bill or prepay meter. Households of one or two people can get a £200 payment, while households of three or more are able to claim £300.