DWP scheme handing people free £147 payment towards heating
West Midlands households struggling with energy costs can get free £147 payment from a Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) scheme. Solihull residents struggling with energy costs and other household essentials are being encouraged to check if they are eligible for help through the Household Support Fund.
The Government has provided Solihull Council with £1.4 million for the sixth round of the Household Support Fund, which runs until 31 March 2025. Solihull Council is making some of this funding available to support residents with energy costs, water bills, food and wider essentials, working in partnership with local food banks, energy advice charity Act on Energy and Age UK Solihull.
Eligible households could receive fuel vouchers of up to £147 and fuel debt relief of up to £500 through Act on Energy, payments of up to £147 to help towards their energy costs through Solihull Council, while pensioners could receive fuel debt relief of up to £500 and £200-£300 Winter Fuel Card through Age UK Solihull.
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Other support includes food parcels, energy efficiency advice to help residents reduce their fuel bills, central heating servicing and repairs, essential white goods, and clothes and blankets to help keep people warm. Solihull Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, Councillor Wazma Qais, said: 'As a Council, we're committed to supporting residents and the most vulnerable households who are struggling to access essentials including water and energy, and with energy prices rising and nights getting colder over the winter months, this latest round of funding will provide vital support.
'Round five funding between April and September saw us support 279 Solihull households directly with energy costs and an additional 154 supported in costs associated with energy such as boiler repairs. A considerable number of requests for support came for food, and we provided over 10,000 food parcels or supermarket vouchers to households in crisis during this time.
'Applications are now open for round six of the Fund and we encourage those who need help to apply through the details provided. We will be working with our partners to process new applications in addition to those made from the previous round relating to energy efficiency upgrades, which will help residents to make their homes warmer and reduce their energy bills.'
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