Households struggling with energy bills in Blackpool are being urged to claim up to £300 worth of support from the local council.
The payments form part of the Government’s Household Support Fund, which has been extended for another year to support families while costs remain high.
The Government has added a further £421million to the pot, which is allocated to local authorities across England to distribute to constituents most in need. The pot is available from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Councils in England decide how best to allocate their portion of the fund, with the amount received based on the size of the population within its catchment area and its needs.
Blackpool Council is using its allocation to support residents struggling to meet water or energy costs.
A £200 award will be made to qualifying households of one or two people (including children).
For households of three or more people, including children, an award of £300 will be made.
If successful, the awards will be paid directly to energy providers and applied as a credit on the recipient’s bill or pre-payment electric or gas meter.
This scheme is available to Blackpool residents only, and all household members must be permanent residents of the supply address. Children included in the application must also be permanent residents of the address and must receive child benefit at that address.
To apply for Blackpool Council’s household support fund, applicants must:
- Be over the age of 16 and responsible for paying the electricity/gas bills for the property
- Be a Blackpool Council resident
- Experiencing financial hardship and not have enough resources to meet your immediate short term needs
- Not have received a Household Support fund payment in the last 12 months.
However, the council states: “There is no requirement to be in receipt of Universal Credit or other DWP benefits to apply for this fund.”
To apply, applicants must provide recent bank statements for all accounts held by the applicant and other adults in the household, showing all transactions. This is intended to “demonstrate the household meets the aims of the scheme”.
A copy of the electricity or gas bill is required, including the applicant’s name, address, supplier, and account number. For those with a pre-payment meter, a screenshot from their online account showing the same details must be submitted.
If a landlord’s card or coin meter is used, applicants should provide a letter from the landlord confirming responsibility for the supply and use of a private meter.
Councils across the country are offering their own varying support, making it key for Britons to check their local authority’s website or call their office to see what’s available to them.
People can use this postcode checker to find out what council they fall under.
