DWP Winter Fuel Payment victims can get up to £300 from new fund

The money is available to many people struggling to pay bills as costs go up in the winter

Thousands of people who are missing out on Winter Fuel Payments after a change in the rules can now apply for up to £300 to help cover energy bills this winter. The Government has changed the rules on Winter Fuel Payments meaning they are now means tested, so you have to be claiming Pension Credit or a similar benefit to get the money off your gas and electricity.

But those who now find themselves unable to afford heating this winter can apply for hundreds of pounds thanks to a different pot of cash - the Household Support Fund. The £421million fund is designed to help people with a range of expenses and the money is allocated by your local council.

That means people in each area will have different rules - with different people qualifying and different amounts handed out. But across the country, the money is designed to help people who are struggling with basic bills.

In North Devon, for example, £200,000 has been set aside to help pensioners who do not qualify for Pension Credit - meaning they won't get Winter Fuel Payments. They will instead get £200 from the Household Support Fund.

In Plymouth you can claim vouchers worth up to £200 towards energy bills. In Blackpool you can claim up to £200 to be paid directly to your energy provider.

In Middlesbrough you get an amount based on whether you live alone, with a partner or with children. In Leicestershire you can get up to £300 towards energy bills.

You need to contact your local authority and ask about the Household Support Fund to find your local rules. The fund was launched in 2021 to help people through the cost of living crisis and is now in its fifth round of funding - which was launched in September this year.