Households must ACT to get free cash for bills or miss out on £360m
In a new warning from the DWP, households are being urged to act now to get free money for their energy and water bills.
The support will be provided through the Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme, which ends on March 31.
The DWP is now actively encouraging Brits struggling with their energy, water and other essential bills to contact their local authority and ask about the HSF.
More than £360 million of this funding was used to help households with their energy and water costs between October 2021 and March 2023, according to new DWP figures shared with The Sun.
Support first launched in October 2021 and has been extended four times since then.
Each municipality receives a different share of the funding, depending on the size of the catchment area, population and need.
Households can receive supermarket vouchers or cash grants worth up to £1,000.
But the exact amount you can get depends on where you live, so you should check what you can get and how your council will pay you.
Some municipalities pay out automatically, while other municipalities require an application form to be completed.
Other municipalities can use the financing from the scheme to make homes more energy efficient.
For example, Kingston upon Hull Council has used the fund to pay for hundreds of boilers and radiators for poor families.
And pensioners in Swindon Borough Council can claim thousands of pounds in fuel subsidies.
To receive the assistance, you usually must have a low income.
The government invested £842 million in the fourth and final extension of the HSF in October 2023, but the scheme is set to expire on March 31.
This means that households only have a few weeks left to take advantage of the support available under the scheme.
It is vital to get your applications in as soon as possible as councils can close their schemes before the March 31 deadline if all funds have been pre-allocated.
For example, Plymouth Council closed applications for its HSF scheme on December 12.
And Kent County Council closes its application process on February 29.
It's also important to be aware that your local authority can make payments automatically, meaning you don't need to apply for help.
For example, the Royal Borough of Greenwich will automatically hand out a £250 grant to thousands of care leavers this month, after which the scheme will close.
Jo Churchill, MP for Employment, said: “The Household Support Fund is for anyone who needs a helping hand.
“This Fund gives councils the opportunity to help in a range of ways – from providing heating support, such as boilers and insulation, to other needs, such as kitchen supplies, free school meals and warm clothing.
“Now that inflation has more than halved and the economy has turned a corner, anyone who thinks they may need help this winter should contact the council to find out how this Fund can help them.”
What is the Domestic Support Fund?
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits get through the winter amid the cost of living.
Councils across the country were given a share of the £500 million funding available to hand out to Britons in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the Spring Budget 2022 and for a third time in October 2022 to help people on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP subsequently confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme until March 31, 2024.
The help you can receive depends on who your municipality is and your personal circumstances.
But if you qualify, you should be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or your weekly grocery shop.
Check with your municipality to find out what support is available and what the eligibility criteria are.
How much can I get?
The exact amount of money that are available to you through the HSF scheme depends on the criteria of your municipality.
For example, Birmingham City Council, the country's largest local authority, is providing cash grants of up to £200 to households currently in financial difficulty through the HSF scheme.
The money is intended to help with food costs and utility payments.
You must complete a registration form by going to the waiting list.
A team member near you will contact you by March 31 to complete your complete application.
Households living in North Yorkshire must take action by February 21 to secure supermarket vouchers worth up to £450.
If you have received a letter stating that you are eligible for a payment, you must select your e-vouchers by February 20.
To do this, visit
Residents who received housing allowance on or between January 26, 2023 and February 25, 2023, but were not eligible for living expenses payments in April and May 2023 for people on a low income advantages or tax credits can provide £450.
Residents who get the maximum discount to pay their council tax bill through the income-related tax relief scheme from August 14, 2023, can get £110.
Support is available for West Northamptonshire residents earning less than £450 per week.
Households who apply before March 31 can receive a grant worth £300.
Visit for more information.
How do you apply?
To get help, you will need to contact your municipality as local authorities are responsible for distributing funding.
To find your municipality, use the gov.uk council seeker.
Once you've found your municipality, there should be information on the website about how to apply for the funding.
Each municipality has a different application process, so the exact details of how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
This means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund may also vary. For more information, it is best to contact your municipality.
Some municipalities do not require you to apply for the assistance and will instead contact you if you qualify.
If there is no information on your council's website, it is best to call them and ask for more information.