Funded by the Government’s Household Support Scheme, each local authority decides what help they are offering and in Blackpool, residents can claim payments of up to £300 to help cover energy costs
Households struggling to cover the cost of their energy bills can claim a free cost of living payment worth up to £300.
The help comes from the Government’s Household Support Fund scheme which gives local councils funding to help people struggling with the cost of living. Each local authority decides what help they are offering and in Blackpool, residents can claim payments of up to £300 to help cover energy costs.
A payment of £200 can be claimed by households with two people – including children – while a payment of £300 can be claimed by households with three or more. Successful claims will see the money paid directly to their energy provider and it will appear as a credit on their energy account.
To apply for Blackpool’s household support fund, you will need to be:
- Over the age of 16 and responsible for paying the electricity/gas bills for the property
- A Blackpool Council resident
- Experiencing financial hardship and not have enough resources to meet your immediate short term needs
Alongside this, you also can’t have received a household support fund payment within the last 12 months. Blackpool Council has said you do not need to be claiming Universal Credit or any other Department for Work and Pension (DWP) benefit to be eligible for a payment.
To get the money you will need to provide evidence of your financial hardship with Blackpool Council noting that if this is not included your claim will be declined. Evidence includes your most recent banking statements, proof of your bills, and a copy of your electricity or gas bill showing your name, address, name of your supplier and your account number. You can make an application through the council’s website here.
Blackpool Council says that due to the expected high number of applications, it could take several weeks before your application is considered. As soon as it is assessed you will be contacted and if successful, the money will be paid within a few working days.
The Household Support Fund was initially launched in October 2021, and in the spring budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the scheme again by another six months until September 2024, giving it an extra £500million in funding. Since its launch, it has been given around £3billion from the central Government.
Support offered through the Households Support Fund scheme usually consists of free cash payments, supermarket and energy vouchers, and extra Council Tax support. Local councils are currently announcing what help they will be offering over the coming few months. To find out what this is you should go to your local council’s website.
