£200 towards energy and heating costs remains available with applications encouraged

Residents are being asked to check the eligibility criteria and apply, with application advice and support available if needed.  The revised criteria now means more residents will be eligible, with those earning less than £21,000 being able to apply, rather than those earning less than £18,525. 

Residents who also may have experienced additional heating costs because of their disability are also being encouraged to apply.

Over 2450 applications are now being processed, with funding remaining available for a limited period.  Eligible residents who receive the £200 support will then need to spend this with their energy provider.

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said, “We are already in direct contact with many residents but we are making this wide appeal to encourage anyone who may be eligible to apply for this additional help whilst funds last.”

Councillor Bear added, “We have revised the criteria slightly, making it easier for residents to apply and if you think you might be eligible, then we look forward to hearing from you.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our voluntary groups and our partners who are supporting residents with applications."

You can apply to the Household Support Fund as a Bromley resident if you or your household meets one of the criteria listed:

• your household has a net annual household income of less than £21,000 and savings of less than £1,000. 
• you are a vulnerable person in receipt of means tested benefits and can demonstrate a particular hardship
• you are disabled and have experienced increases in utility bills due to usage of equipment or transport costs
• you are entitled to but not claiming qualifying benefits
• you have begun a claim or return to payment of a benefit after the relevant qualifying date.  See the government website for further guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment 
• you receive non-means tested benefits and missed out on the cost-of-living payments.

Applications will be accepted until 31 March 2023, subject to funding availability. Funding comes from the Department of Work and Pensions and latest guidance about the fund is available at www.bromley.gov.uk/HouseholdSupportFund.

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For media enquiries, please contact James George, public affairs, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk