The help is being issuing as part of the Household Support Fund, which is a pot of cash made available to local authorities to support vulnerable families
Energy bills have just risen again
Struggling households are being urged to check if they qualify for up to £500 energy bill support.
The help is being issued by Worcestershire County Council so you would need to be living in Worcestershire to be eligible.
In order to get the support, you must live in Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon, Bromsgrove, Redditch, or Wyre Forest District, and have a gross household income of £24,570 or less a year if you’re single with no children.
The income threshold is £31,000 for all other households, excluding any benefits you may receive.
You must also have no household savings, and meet one of five vulnerability criteria, including being in receipt of DWP benefits, of state pension age, have young children under four-years-old.
Households with children under 18, or young adults up to 21 in full-time education, could get up to £500 in energy help. All other households could get up to £300 in support.
Energy payments will either be made directly to your supplier or through Post Office vouchers for pre-payment customers. You can apply for the scheme through the Act On Energy website.
Worcestershire County Council is issuing the support as part of the Household Support Fund, which is a pot of cash made available to local authorities to support vulnerable families.
If you’re struggling and you don’t live in Worcestershire, you should ask your local council what support it can offer you.
For example, Surrey County Council is giving supermarket vouchers worth up to £300.
The vouchers can be redeemed at supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Farmfoods, Iceland, The Food Warehouse, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
The scheme is open to any resident who is over the age of 18 and lives in Surrey, has household savings of £2,000 or less on average over a 90-day period and an annual household income under £27,007.50 before taxes and deductions.
Nottingham City Council is providing £100 vouchers to people who are on low income or benefits. The council has already started sending out the vouchers, and said it may take until February 28, 2026 for them to arrive.
There will be 10,000 vouchers given out to successful households on a random basis, rather than first-come first-serve. You can apply even if you already received a voucher from the council from April 2025.
Wakefield Council is issuing food vouchers to households that are on low income and receiving council tax help.
Pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Support should have received a £70 voucher in November – but there are more vouchers coming for other households.
Families in receipt of Council Tax Support will get a £50 voucher from December 15. All other households in receipt of Council Tax Support will get a £70 voucher between December 3 and December 12.