How to access support with energy bills and food this winter, with the help of funding from the Household Support Fund which is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Energy, food and other support for households in need
Citizens Advice Plymouth will be supporting households in need who meet the eligibility criteria and are experiencing financial difficulty.
You can get help with:
- Food: eligible clients can apply for £180 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi or Iceland.
- Fuel: eligible clients can apply for £147 in top up voucher codes for pre-payment meters, or a £150 credit voucher for credit accounts (where bills are paid monthly or quarterly) or smart meters.
- White goods: eligible clients can apply for an essential appliance, including delivery, installation, and old appliance removal where applicable.
- Household Furniture: eligible clients can apply for an essential household item or furniture. This will include delivery but many items will require self-assembly. Vouchers for clothes may also be provided.
Eligibility
Households can only apply for these funds if they did not access support two rounds of the Household Support Fund at any time between 6 July 2022 and 22 January 2023.
Only one application can be made per household. The fund is only for residents living in Plymouth. Any applications received that do not meet this initial criteria will be rejected.
To apply, households must also fall into one of the eligible categories:
- households with at least one child under 18 who resides in the property on a permanent basis
- households where someone has a disability or a long term health condition
- households where someone has reached pension age
This fund is not suitable for emergency support as applications will take time to process.
How to apply
Applications for the fund have now closed due to extremely high demand. Citizens Advice Plymouth is aiming to process all applications by 31 March 2023
Food Support
The Household Support Fund has funded a number of community larders and foodbanks across the city so they are able to continue providing support:
- Four Greens Community Trust
- Tamar View
- Stoke Village Hub
- Stonehouse Community Fridge
- Devonport, Stonehouse and Stoke Help a Neighbour
- St Pancras Church Centre
- St Peters Church
- Mutley Baptist Church
- Shekinah
For more information about all of the food support available in Plymouth, visit the Food Access Map run by Plymouth Food Aid Network.
Emergency food or energy vouchers
Plymouth Foodbank can help with food or top-up energy vouchers in an emergency but you need to be referred. Find out how to get help from Plymouth Foodbank.
If you are hungry or cold and need access to hot food, the Plymouth Soup Run provides nutritious food at a variety of locations, 365 days of the year. Find out more on the Plymouth Soup Run website.
Support for unpaid carers of family or friends
If you provide unpaid care for a family member or friend, find support by registering with the Improving Lives Plymouth Caring for Carers service.
Email: caringforcarers@improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk or call 01752 201890.