People living on the canal encouraged to apply for energy bill support
Wiltshire Council is encouraging people who live on the Kennet and Avon canal, on leisure, residential or non-residential moorings, who were not previously eligible for government support under the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS-AF) to apply now.
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was put in place by the government to help households that would otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential living costs during the current cost-of-living challenges. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) awarded Wiltshire Council £5.4m to distribute throughout the 2023-24 financial year.
Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health said, Some members of the boating community have missed out on energy support payments due to not having a postcode. We know that people are continuing to struggle in these financially challenging times, and we understand the hardship faced by this group of boaters that were not previously eligible for support with their energy costs. Wiltshire Council is now making money available from Household Support Fund 4 to support this group of boaters with either a retail voucher, Post Office or PayPoint cash out voucher
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To apply for this latest scheme, boaters must complete a short form on the Wiltshire Council website and provide proof of a valid Canal and River Trust Licence. Eligible boaters who reside on either a leisure, residential or non-residential mooring, in Wiltshire and have not received either HSF4 or EBSS-AF payments in 2023-2024 can apply.
Applications need to be registered with Wiltshire Council by 31 March 2024 and will be processed before the end of April 2024. Successful applications will be honoured on a first come, first served basis, and will receive a voucher for £400.00.
If you feel you are eligible, or know of somebody who is, please complete the web-based form or call 0300 003 4576.
For more information about Wiltshire Councils HSF4 schemes visit: Household Support Fund 2024 (HSF2024)
Update 1 April 2024
Applications to this funding has now closed - the form no longer works.
Successful applicants will receive their awards before the end of April 2024.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive an email to explain why.
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