Welcome to our 2024 Christmas countdown calendar of kindness, warmth, wellness and community spirit! Each day until Christmas we will be sharing info on how to help one another stay safe and well.
The Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme is once again distributing funding from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund to support people who may be struggling with their energy bills over the winter months.
The Household Support Fund can provide short-term financial assistance in the form of a one-off voucher payment to meet an immediate need and help those who are finding it hard to manage the cost of their energy bills. This supplements ongoing emergency support from the Local Welfare Scheme for residents in financial crisis.
Families and households in Warwickshire can apply whether they use pre-payment meters, pay by direct debit or on receipt of a bill. Residents are invited to contact the Local Welfare Scheme team for a confidential discussion about their situation. Call 0800 408 1448 or 01926 359182 or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/householdsupportfund
This support is time limited and is available from 20 December. Those entitled to benefits eligible free school meals have already received this support as part of their recent cost of living payment.
For those residents who previously received the winter fuel payment and are no longer eligible but are finding it difficult to meet the cost of their fuel bills, they can go their local library with a form of ID and proof of their name and address and a member of staff can help with an application for one-off support towards energy costs.
WCC is also working with Act on Energy who can provide free advice around energy management and debt. The service can also help residents arrange a boiler service or repair and assist with general home heating and energy enquiries. For further information, please visit the Act on Energy website
More information and advice on staying warm and well this winter is available in our Warwickshire Together Winter Wellbeing publication.
We’ll see you tomorrow for day 24 of our Christmas countdown calendar!
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