Local councils are offering pensioners who have just missed out on this year’s Winter Fuel Payment hundreds of pounds worth of support to replace it.
The support forms part of the Government’s Household Support Fund, a scheme launched for local authorities to help their constituents with living costs.
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. This year, the support runs from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
Several councils are allocating part of their fund to help pensioners who have lost their eligibility for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)’s Winter Fuel Payment, which became means-tested this year.
The decision to narrow the eligibility criteria for the benefit, which has stripped support from millions in a bid to cut costs, has faced widespread criticism. Charities have warned that some pensioners will be “seriously affected” by the change.
This is especially concerning as 700,000 additional low-income pensioners in need should qualify for the payment but won’t receive it because they are not claiming Pension Credit, despite being eligible.
However local authorities are stepping in to help. Kent County Council, Manchester City Council, and Blackpool Council to name a few, are offering up to £200 to pensioners and other struggling households to support with energy bill payments.
People must meet a certain varying criteria to qualify, for example, being a member of the respective council’s constituency and have a proven low income, and have not been in receipt of cash support from the fund recently.
Britons are urged to check what their local council is offering by visiting the website or calling the office.
People can also look up their local council, followed by ‘Household Support Fund’ in a search engine to navigate to the support quicker.
Those unsure of their local council can use a postcode checker to find out.
