Hundreds who’ve lost winter fuel payments can apply for extra £200 help

HUNDREDS of households missing out on a winter fuel payment can apply for £200 to cover energy bills within weeks.

The help comes via the latest round of the Household Support Fund which is worth £421million.

The fund is designed to help hard-up households cover the cost of living, mostly through cash grants, supermarket and energy vouchers.

Each council across England has been allocated a share of the £421million pot and decides who to distribute money to.

North Devon Council has set aside £200,000 for pensioners receiving a council tax reduction but not pension credit.

The local authority said 2,700 residents in the area get a council tax reduction, with roughly 1,000 not receiving pension credit on top.

Councillors are concerned this cohort could struggle to cover energy bills this winter.

It comes after the Government changed the eligibility criteria for the winter fuel payment meaning only those on certain benefits, including pension credit, will receive the up to £300 payment.

To cover the gap, North Devon Council is dishing out £200 grants to the just under 1,000 pensioners not receiving pension credit, the BBC reports.

We have asked North Devon Council how the £200 payments will be made, and when, and will update this story when we have heard back.

Eligible residents will be able to apply in the next few weeks via the council’s website.

What about if I don’t live in North Devon?

You should be able to get help via the Household Support Fund if you don’t live North Devon.

Each council across England has been allocated a share from the £421million pot.

But each local authority gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.

That means what you are entitled to will vary depending on where you live.

Not all councils have decided what they will do with their share of the £421million yet either.

The best thing to do is contact your local authority to see if any help is currently on offer.

You can find what council area you fall under by the using the Government’s council locator tool via gov.uk.

The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help those unsure figure out what they may be able to claim.

Other help on offer

If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might be able to get a grant from your energy firm to cover energy debt.

British Gas is handing out grants worth £1,700 to struggling households through its Individual and Families Fund.

The fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers living in England, Scotland or Wales.

You won’t be eligible if you received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.

And you must be seeking a grant to clear outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account.

Crucially, you also need to have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months.

If you don’y qualify for help with British Gas, a number of other energy firms offer help to customers struggling with energy bill debt.

This includes OVO, Boost, E.On, E.On Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita.