Kent County Council News Update

Household Support Fund – £100 energy support

If you or someone you know is struggling to pay energy bills, you may be eligible for a one-off £100 to help heat or power your home.
 
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. This service is not in place to offer support in emergency circumstances.

If your application is successful, you will receive one prepaid card per eligible household to use towards energy costs. If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria you will be unable to submit your application. However, you can find out what other support may be available via Kent Together. There may also be support available through your local district or borough council.
 
The scheme is available until 29 February 2024 or until the funding has been allocated.
 
*Terms apply – subject to availability and eligibility criteria.
The card is issued by GVS Prepaid Ltd, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated.

Household Energy Bill – additional support

We are working with Citizens Advice North and West Kent to support residents on low incomes who are taking positive steps to address their debts. 

Residents could be eligible for additional support towards their household energy bill and receive up to £500 (subject to eligibility criteria below).

To be eligible for this scheme, you must at a minimum meet the following qualifying criteria:

• Be aged 16 or over.
• Be a Kent resident, permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bromley, and Bexley)
• Be responsible for paying the household energy bill (one award per household). If a partner is awarded an energy card, but is not the main energy account holder, they can still use the card against the household energy costs.
• Be accessing support through the ‘Kent Money Advice Hub’.

Funding is limited so contact the Kent Money Advice Hub today.

This support is funded by the UK Governments Household Support Fund – the scheme will close once all funds are spent or before the 31 March 2024.