Almost 2,000 Swindon residents to receive energy bill support

Energy vouchers to help reduce the cost of bills are being sent to 1,923 residents by Swindon Borough Council.

Worth £385,000, the vouchers are being issued by the Council through the Household Support Fund.

The Council was awarded £1.5m from the Government in early October through the Household Support Fund, to provide vulnerable households with support for food, heating and housing over the colder months.

The newly-issued energy vouchers will support pensioners and some younger residents with the cost of energy during winter. Energy bills are set to increase again in the New Year, after Ofgem announced a rise in the energy price cap from 1 January 2025.

The vouchers are being made available to both low-income pensioners just above the Pension Credit threshold who require additional support and other vulnerable residents who may suffer from fuel poverty. The Council will directly contact eligible residents with more information about how they can access this payment.

A further £81,000 was made available for residents in need via the Household Support Application Fund earlier in November, while the Council will spend a further £585,000 on food vouchers for families in need during school holidays. In many instances, it is not necessary to directly use the application fund process as recipients are either automatically identified or will access the support through specific partners.

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit before Saturday’s deadline (21 Dec). A successful application for Pension Credit will automatically trigger eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment, an annual tax-free government grant of £200 for residents under the age of 80, or £300 if they are over 80. Claims can be made online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling 0800 991234.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Jim Robbins, has encouraged pensioners who are contacted by the Council to access the funding provided. He said: “As we see temperatures drop, it’s vital for residents to focus on their wellbeing and keep warm by taking advantage of the support available.

“We’ve been working closely with our colleagues, MPs and the wider community to make sure we identify the right people to access this support. However, for those who have not been identified, the Household Support Fund is available to those who need help.”

The Household Support Fund can be accessed on the Swindon Borough Council website by searching ‘Household Support Fund’.