Access support with energy bills and food with the help of funding from the Household Support Fund, which is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The fund was due to close on 31 March 2024, but the Government has announced it will be extended for a further six months. We expect to receive around £2.2 million. More details will be shared on this webpage at a later date.
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 this fund if they did not access support in the previous rounds of the Household Support Fund anytime between 10 July 2023 and 31 March 2024.
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
- households with a single occupant receiving help with housing costs.
This fund is not suitable for emergency support as applications will take time to process.
Households who meet the eligibility criteria will be asked to provide evidence and identification. If this is not provided then the application will not be processed.
How to apply
Applications for round 3 of Household Support Fund 4 are now closed. We will update this webpage with details of future rounds of applications.
Citizens Advice Plymouth aims to contact applicants within eight weeks of receiving the application and supporting evidence, but this may vary due to demand. Please do not call Citizens Advice Plymouth for an update on your application as this may cause delays.
you have made an application, please make sure you:
- send the evidence requested
- respond to any requests for further evidence in a timely manner via email
- 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.
If you need 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.
Vouchers will be distributed during the 2024 Easter holiday, May half-term and summer holiday.
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: caringforcarers@improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk or call 01752 201890.
More cost of living support
To see all the support available, visit our cost of living pages.