Support for households with the immediate pressures on living costs.
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What funding is available?
£38 million has been made available through a winter fuel support scheme. This is part of a support package of over £50m to address immediate pressures on living costs.
Eligible households can claim a one-off £100 payment from their local authority. The money is to provide support towards paying winter fuel bills.
The payment will be available to all eligible households regardless of how they pay for fuel. This includes payments made on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit or by paying a bill quarterly.
About the fund
On 16 November 2021 a £51.7million package of funding was announced. The fund is to help low income households meet the pressures on living costs this winter. The aim is to reduce the impact of the cut to Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit and the rising cost of energy.
Who can apply?
The scheme is open to households where one member is in receipt of certain welfare benefit. You must have been claiming these benefits at any time between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022.
- Income Support.
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance.
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance.
- Universal Credit.
- Working Tax Credits.
You must also be responsible for paying the energy bills for the property.
How to apply
Local authorities will be writing to eligible households they are aware of, inviting them to make a claim to the scheme. Individuals may also choose to submit a claim via their local council’s website from 13 December 2021.
All applications must be received by a local council by 18 February 2022.
Payments will be made from January until 31 March 2022.
You may still be experiencing severe financial hardship. If so, you may wish to make a claim to the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF).