Household Support Fund
The Government provided the Household Support Fund to local authorities for the period 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 (or when funds run out). Cheshire West and Chester Council allocated part of their funds to local community and charitable organisations to help support people in need of food, fuel or other essential living costs and Citizens Advice Cheshire West used its allocation to set up the Heating Bank.
The Heating Bank has supported many people to pay their energy costs, however it has now nearly used up all its allocation from the Household Support Fund. As funds are running low and the Government has yet to announce whether they will provide any further funds, to enable us to help as many households as possible up to the end of March 2024 we can only provide 1 award, per household between 01 Jan and 31 March 2024.
Application is online only, please do not contact our Adviceline as they will not be able to assist with an application.
Eligibility
Before completing the form, please review the eligibility criteria outlined below:
You must be a resident of Cheshire West and Chester and:
- Household has not received an award since 01 January 2024
- Struggling to pay your energy bills
- Provide proof of address (less than 3 months old)
- Details of pre payment meter or copy of most recent energy bill
Number of Awards
- One award per household between 01 January to 31 March 2024
Unsuccessful Applications:
- Incomplete or incorrect application forms will not be processed and will be deleted from our records.
- Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria, fail to provide evidence, or do not grant consent for personal data processing will not be considered.
Struggling to Pay Bills or Emergency Situations:
- If you are in an emergency situation, please contact your energy supplier directly.
- If you are experiencing difficulties in paying your energy bills and have not yet sought assistance, it is recommended to reach out to your energy supplier, as they may be able to provide support.
- For assistance with energy debts or concerns about potential disconnection, please consider the following options:
- Citizens Advice Cheshire West Adviceline – 0808 2787806
- Cheshire West HELP Scheme – 0808 1753599
- Alternatively you can find out more information on our website.
Energy Saving Advice
Our Energy Saving Team offers free telephone or in person advice to anyone who wants to find out more about how to manage their energy usage. To find out more, please complete our online form
They also offer free workshops to community groups based in Cheshire. These workshops aim to help reduce energy costs by providing information to help make sustainable changes in behaviour to reduce consumption, and raise awareness of grants and schemes available.
Please take a moment to look at the following tips on how to save money on your energy bills provided by the Energy Saving Trust.