Time is running out for struggling households in Portsmouth to apply for crucial financial help with soaring energy and water costs. The local council is offering grants of up to £200, but the application window closes at 12 noon on January 29, 2026.
Portsmouth's Support Scheme Details
The funding is part of the national Household Support Fund, a government pot of money given to local authorities to distribute to residents in financial difficulty. The amount and method of support vary across the country.
Portsmouth City Council is providing direct payments of £150 for single-person households and £200 for couples or families. To qualify, applicants must be finding it hard to pay their bills and fall into specific categories, including pensioners on disability benefits, carers, care leavers, and single parents on Universal Credit with housing costs.
A key eligibility criterion is household income, which must be below £935 for a single adult or £1,350 for a couple. All applications must be submitted online via the council's website before the fast-approaching deadline.
Support Available in Other Local Authorities
While the Portsmouth scheme is closing soon, other councils across England are running their own programmes with different criteria and deadlines. It highlights a postcode lottery of support available through the same central fund.
In London, Camden Council is offering one-off payments of £500 to residents in an emergency financial situation who cannot afford essentials. Applicants must have lived in Camden for at least six weeks and provide recent bank statements.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is distributing two £60 vouchers to around 6,000 pensioner households receiving Council Tax Reduction this January. Furthermore, one-off £120 payments are available for low-income residents who pay energy bills but do not get council tax help.
Meanwhile, City of York Council is issuing automatic one-off £100 payments this winter to nearly 5,000 residents who receive council tax support. Eligible households have been sent a letter with a unique code to apply online.
Act Now to Secure Vital Help
The continued cost of living crisis means this financial support is a vital lifeline for many. The stark deadline in Portsmouth serves as a reminder for all households struggling with bills to check what their own local council may be offering.
Residents outside Portsmouth are urged to visit their local authority's website and search for the Household Support Fund. The schemes are typically limited and often run on a first-come, first-served basis, so prompt action is essential.
