Councils in England are offering hundreds of pounds worth of cost-of-living payments to households in need, yet much of it goes unclaimed every year.
The support comes from the Government’s Household Support Fund, which has been newly extended until March 2026 to help people manage rising costs. The scheme is aimed at low-income and vulnerable households struggling with everyday bills. Councils receive a share of the fund and decide how to use it locally – some offer food or supermarket vouchers, while others give direct support with energy and water bills. Some councils are currently giving payments worth up to £300 away.
Blackpool cost of living payments
In Blackpool, the household support fund can provide short-term financial support to meet immediate needs and help residents who are struggling with energy or water costs. The following payments are available right now:
- An award of £200 for qualifying households of one or two people (including children)
- An award of £300 for qualifying households of three or more people (including children).
If successful, payments will be paid directly to the household’s energy providers or United Utilities and will appear as a credit on their bill or pre-payment electric or gas meter.
All household members, including children, must live permanently at the supply address. In addition, Child Benefit must be claimed at that address for any eligible children.
To apply, applicants must be:
- Over the age of 16 and responsible for paying the utility bills for the property
- A Blackpool Council resident
- Experiencing financial hardship and struggling to meet your immediate short-term needs
Due to limited funding, only one award will be available per household within a 12-month period. There is no requirement to be in receipt of Universal Credit or other DWP benefits to apply for this fund.
Doncaster cost of living payments
The City of Doncaster Council is offering varying amounts of cash depending on the number of people in a household, and whether that household includes children.
A single payment will be made to help with food for eligible households of:
- £100 to households with one dependent child.
- £200 to households with two dependent children.
- £300 to households with three or more dependent children
A dependent child is a child for whom a person receives Child Benefit.
Additionally, a single £100 payment will be made to help with energy bills to eligible households with or without children who meet the eligibility criteria.
To be eligible, households living in Doncaster must be receiving at least one of the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit,
- Local Council Tax Reduction,
- Universal Credit, which includes the housing element, or
- Means-tested free school meals.
Portsmouth cost of living payments
Portsmouth City Council has opened a new scheme to help low-income households with rising energy and water bills. If you’re eligible, you’ll get £150 for a single-person household, £200 for a couple or family.
To be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria:
- Pensioners receiving Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance
- Carers and caring households receiving either Carer’s Allowance or the Carers Element of Universal Credit, or Pension Credit
- Care leavers and care-experienced adults (contact your personal adviser who can apply on your behalf.)
- Low-income working-aged adults unable to work, specifically those with Limited Capacity for Work (LCW), who are not receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Single parents receiving Universal Credit
Your monthly household income must also be below £935 for a single adult household, or £1,350 for a couple.
People have until 12pm on Monday, October 27, 2025, to apply online.
Portsmouth residents can also apply for a £50 supermarket voucher per eligible child if:
- You’re on a low income and have children aged 0-19, who do not qualify for free school meals, or
- You or your partner is at least 20 weeks pregnant.
For this voucher, families have until 12pm on September 25, 2025, to apply.
Who else can get support from the Household Support Fund?
The Government extended the Household Support Fund scheme for another year, adding £742million to the pot. This pot is allocated to local authorities across England to share out to constituents. It is available from April 1, 2025, until March 31, 2026.
This makes it important for Britons to check their local authority’s website or call their office to see what’s available. Last year, more than £65million worth of support went unclaimed.
People can use this postcode checker to find out which council they fall under, and apply for help from the fund.
