Wiltshire Council supporting eligible households through a Targeted Older Person Energy Support scheme

Households eligible for Wiltshire Council's Targeted Older Person Energy Support scheme will be sent a letter containing a Post Office cash voucher worth £300.

Wiltshire Council has identified more than 1,200 households to receive the payment from the Household Support Fund 6. These households are home to people of pensionable age, who are not eligible for the Government £300 Winter Fuel Allowance and are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. Additionally, they will either be:

• in receipt of a Disabled Band Reduction in their Council Tax liability, or
• receive an Adult Social Care package, or
• are aged 80 years and over.

People do not need to apply for this payment, eligible households have been identified and will receive a letter through the post.

To claim this payment recipients simply need to follow the instructions in the letter, telling them to take the letter to any Post Office branch with one of the forms of ID listed, within three months of the letter date.

People are warned to be careful of texts that are circulating pretending to be government announcements asking people to apply to your local council for a replacement winter fuel payment. Never click on any links asking for personal information or bank details to check eligibility. Wiltshire Council will never ask you to reply with personal or bank details to receive a Household Support Fund award. 

If in doubt, please contact the Wellbeing Hub - via email wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk or call 0300 003 4576 Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm, Friday between 9am and 4pm. There is a voicemail option outside office hours.

Wiltshire Council was allocated £2.7m of Household Support Fund 6 for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, to support 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.

Local authorities have the flexibility to identify which households are in most need of support and to apply their own discretion when identifying eligibility, but the expectation is that the fund should be used to support households in the most need; particularly those who may not be eligible for the other government support.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health said, Following the announcement of the Household Support Fund 6, we reviewed allocations of previous funding and changes to government guidance. Earlier allocations of the Household Support Fund have been distributed to families, disabled people, and older adults through more than ninety different schemes.

I'm really pleased that officers at the council have identified this group for support, bringing this scheme to those most in need across our county. This additional support will provide these pensionable households assistance towards heating costs and other household bills during the ongoing cost of living challenges.

The council has already distributed £15,930,940 of the Household Support Fund between 2021- 2024 (rounds 1 to 5). Distribution has been via a range of schemes to include:

• free school meals in the holidays
• foodbanks and community food providers
• new boilers, fuel, and energy vouchers
• white goods, furniture, and flooring
• clothing, uniforms, and bedding
• wider essentials
• advice and preventative support.

For further information about available support please visit - https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/10672/HSF6-overview-eligibility-and-how-funds-can-be-used