Thousands of households can claim free £300 to help pay their energy bill
Thousands of low-income households will receive up to £300 off their energy bills to help with the cost of living.
The money is being offered by Blackpool Council as part of the Household Support Fund and will be paid directly to your energy provider.
The Household Support Fund is a pot of cash provided by the Government and distributed by local councils to struggling families.
It is up to each local authority to decide how it spends its share of the money. As well as helping with energy bills, some councils have offered supermarket vouchers and grants.
The Household Support Fund has been extended three times so far, with the latest instalment worth £421million, and will run until March 2023.
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Blackpool Council is offering £200 to qualifying households of one or two people, including children and £300 to qualifying households with three or more people, including children.
The money will go towards people's energy bills (Getty Images)Who qualifies for the help?
Household members must be permanent residents of Blackpool and registered for council tax at the address. Children must be permanent residents of the address and have Child Benefit in payment at the address.
The council says it will carry out checks to confirm household members.
To apply for the Household Support Fund you must be over the age of 16 and responsible for paying the property's electricity and gas bills.
You must also be experiencing financial hardship and not have enough resources to meet your immediate short-term needs.
You do not need to be receiving DWP benefits to apply to this fund.
The person applying for the money must be at least 16 and responsible for the property's energy bills (Getty Images)What evidence do you need to provide?
You'll need a recent full months bank/building society/savings account statement for all accounts for the applicant and all other adults in your household.
Statements should show transactions in and out of the account, not just balances.
You will also need a copy of your electricity or gas bill clearly showing your name and address, the name of the supplier and your account number.
If you have a pre-payment meter, you will need an online account with your electricity or gas supplier.
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From your online account you can take a screenshot or photo showing your name, address name of your supplier and your pre-pay account number.
If your electricity or gas is in your landlord’s name you'll need to provide confirmation of this, for example an email or letter from your landlord.
For more information visit Blackpool Council's website here.
You must be experiencing financial hardship to quality for the fund (Getty Images)How to find out what your council offers
Each council has set up a dedicated Household Support Fund page on its website, explaining what help it is offering through the scheme.
For example, residents covered by North Yorkshire County Council can claim electronic vouchers worth £325 to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.
Medway Council is offering food vouchers worth between £50 and £210, energy vouchers worth between £30 and £100 and water vouchers worth £50.
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