Households given one-week warning over claiming £100 energy bill payment

A one-week warning has been issued households for an extra £100 cost of living payment towards energy bills. The extra help, funded by the government's Household Support Fund, is being handed out by councils and officially ends on March 31.

Applications for Kent residents are set to close on Thursday, February 29. Kent County Council explains: "Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government, the Household Support Fund scheme supports vulnerable Kent households in need of help with significantly rising living costs."

"You can either refer yourself to the scheme or refer someone as a professional."

You will be eligible for assistance if you are aged 16 or over and are a Kent resident, permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley, or Bromley), according to Birmingham Live.

You are also eligible if you have a household income of less than £40,000 per annum before tax, including all benefits and employment income or if you do not have more than £1,000 in savings, not including funds you have identified for the payment of regular bills.

You are also eligible if you do not receive free school meals voucher support from your child's school over the school holidays, for any child within your household or are responsible for your household energy costs. The local authority states: "If you qualify, we will issue one physical or one virtual prepaid card to the value of £100, which can be used towards energy costs.

"The card is issued by GVS Prepaid Ltd, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated."

Applications will close on 29 February 2024, or once the funds have been allocated - whichever is earlier. The fund will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

The local authority adds: "If we have declined your application within the last 7 days and you feel the decision should be reviewed, email householdsupportfund@kent.gov.uk, giving as much information as possible about why you feel we should review the decision."