Cost of Living support extended for winter

Financial support is being extended to help more low income households across the Borough this winter - with added support for elderly residents who do not receive winter fuel payments.

The support from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council will focus on help with food costs, energy and water bills and other essential household expenditures.

The money is available thanks to extra funding from the Government's Household Support Fund (HSF) and will be staggered over the coming months to help reach those most in need.

Who is eligible for support?

The new HSF, extended to 31 March 2025, is being offered this winter in the following ways:

Support for all households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction

If you are eligible for Council Tax Reduction you will be sent a voucher worth £80 to help pay food and energy costs.The voucher is exchangeable for money at any PayPoint outlet and must be exchanged by the end of February.

Winter vouchers will be distributed to over 11,000 working age households entitled to Council Tax Reduction during the last two weeks in November.

And more than 6,000 residents who are pensionable age and entitled to Council Tax Reduction will receive their vouchers during the first two weeks of January.

The vouchers will be sent automatically, so if you receive Council Tax Reduction, there is no need to apply.

Support for elderly households on a low income who do not receive winter fuel payments

A £100 voucher to help with energy costs will be available for elderly households who are on a low income but do not qualify for winter fuel payments.

The vouchers, exchangeable for money, will be sent automatically in the first two weeks of January.

This means that pensioners aged over 66 in receipt of Council Tax Reduction but not eligible for winter fuel payments will be entitled to receive up to £180 worth of extra support in January.

These vouchers must be exchanged by the end of February.

Support for those who do not receive Council Tax Reduction or Pension Credit 

Discretionary £80 payments are available to low-income, energy paying households who do not receive Council Tax Reduction, as well as low-income households with pensioners who do not claim pension credit and therefore do not receive winter fuel payments.

Households can check if they are eligible for this discretionary support to help pay their energy costs through our online application process via the Household Support Fund web page. This online scheme will be up and running soon. 

Support for Care Leavers

Care leavers in the Borough aged between 18 and 25 will automatically receive a £80 voucher in December.

Support for people accessing the 'Back on Track' scheme

The funding will also be used throughout the scheme to supplement the Council's Back on Track which offers crisis support to financially vulnerable residents in the form of goods and services.

What do Councillors think?

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of the Council, said: "We're very pleased this extra funding will help us to support as many people as possible with the cost of living. 

"The Household Support Fund has been a lifeline for households who have been struggling and of course we continue to do all we can to help our residents with the rising costs of food and energy bills and wider essentials, particularly as we approach the colder months.

"This latest round of HSF has been extended to support elderly residents who do not receive winter fuel payments, which means some households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction but not eligible for Winter Fuel Payments may be entitled to receive up to £180.

"Residents who do not receive Council Tax reduction can still access help via the Back on Track scheme or by applying to see if you could be eligible for a discretionary support payment.

"We want to make sure our residents are aware of all the help and support available. Visit the Here to Help Hub page to access a 'one stop shop' with all of the support services available including energy saving schemes, welfare assistance, food banks as well as health, housing and employment advice."

To find out more on the Household Support Fund, visit the Household Support Fund web page.

You can also email hsf@stockton.gov.uk