Access support with energy bills and food with the help of funding from the Household Support Fund, 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 £240 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury, Aldi, or Iceland (check if the voucher can be used online before selecting)
- Fuel: eligible clients can apply for £196 in top up voucher codes for pre-payment meters (not available if you use an app, must be card or key) or a £200 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 essentials: 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 this fund if they did not access support in the previous rounds of the Household Support Fund anytime between November 2023 and September 2024.
Only one application can be made per household and you must live in Plymouth.
Any applications received that do not meet these criteria will be rejected.
Application phases
You need to provide evidence in the form of a pension credit or state pension award letter dated within the last 12 months. Or a copy of 3 recent consecutive months banks statements clearly showing your name and the Pension payment.
Have a child or children under the age of 18 that permanently live in the property
You need to provide evidence in the form of a copy of your child benefit award letter or most recent bank statement showing name and most recent payment. Or you could also provide a copy of your most recent Universal Credit payment showing your name and the breakdown of their award.
Long-term health conditions or disabilities in the household
You need to provide evidence in the form of your most recent disability benefit award letter or letter from a medical professional or patient summary from your GP.
Single and receive help with housing costs
You need to provide evidence in the form of a housing benefit award letter or your most recent Universal Credit payment showing your name and the breakdown of your award.
How to apply
Citizens Advice Plymouth aims to contact applicants within 8 weeks of receiving the application and supporting evidence, but this will vary due to demand and when evidence is received.
Do not call Citizens Advice Plymouth for an update on your application as this may cause delays. If you have made an application, please make sure you:
- send the evidence requested
- respond to any requests for further evidence
- wait to be contacted about your application
If evidence is not received when submitting the application or you do not meet the eligibility criteria you will receive an email or text to confirm your application has been rejected.
This fund is not suitable for emergency support as applications will take time to process.
If you need more support, visit our Cost of Living Hub for advice and guidance.
Food Support
Families with children that are eligible for Free School Meals will receive food vouchers during the school holidays.
Check if you’re eligible for free school meals.
There are also a number of community larders and foodbanks across the city, which you can find on 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: [email protected] or call 01752 201890.
More cost of living support
To see all the support available, visit our cost of living pages.
