HELP is on hand from Warwickshire County Council for residents struggling to pay their energy bills.
The council’s Local Welfare Scheme is offering a one-off payment to families and households finding it difficult to pay for fuel. This is the latest round of fuel support from Warwickshire County Council (WCC) following earlier promotions and over 30,000 vouchers, which have already been issued to people in need.
The support is being funded by the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund, which supplements ongoing emergency support from the Local Welfare Scheme for residents in financial crisis.
The Household Support Fund is available to provide short-term financial support to meet immediate needs and help those who are struggling to afford to pay for energy.
Families and households across the county can apply whether they use pre-payment meters, pay by direct debit or on receipt of an energy bill and applications for the payment, in the form of a voucher, must be made by July 8. Residents are invited to contact the Local Welfare Scheme team for a confidential discussion about their situation.
Coun Heather Timms, WCC spokesperson for environment, climate and culture, said: “This is a time of increased strain for many people and the rising household energy bills will leave many residents feeling worried about how they will make ends meet.
“The council is on hand to provide help and as part of our wider offer we are pleased to again offer vouchers towards fuel bills to low-income families and those who can demonstrate need. Over 30,000 fuel vouchers have been issued over scheme promotions to date and this round will extend the offer to many again. ”
Coun TImms added: “I’d like to remind people in crisis to contact the Local Welfare Scheme which offers support to those with no other means of help either directly, or through extensive links with a range of support services in the county. I strongly encourage people to look online and get in touch, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else, to find out what help there is.”
Anyone entitled to pension credit or eligible for free school meals will automatically receive this support and applications are welcome from others in financial difficulty.
To apply call 0800 408 1448 or 01926 359182 to speak to an advisor in confidence. More information about the Local Welfare Scheme is online at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/localwelfarescheme. For more information about financial support go to www.warwickshire.gov.uk/facinghardship
