Still time to claim a £200 fuel support payment

Tens of thousands of families in communities across Swansea have benefited from millions of pounds in grants and other payments to help them through the cost of living crisis.

But thousands more who are eligible for a £200 fuel support payment or a cost of living grant are being urged to get their applications in.

Since the start of the year, the council has paid out almost £20m in grants to hard-pressed families and individuals, including more than 76,000 cost of living payments, a further 40,000 discretionary cost of living payments, 20,000 fuel payments and 4,500 unpaid carers’ payments.

The fuel payment scheme runs until 5:00pm on February 28 next year and the discretionary cost of living payments scheme closes at the end of March. Anyone who thinks they might be eligible but have not yet applied, should get their applications in soon.

The Welsh Government-funded support is in addition to any UK Government winter fuel payments made to pensioners via the Department for Work and Pensions.

Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said those eligible for the grant would be paid as quickly as possible.

He said: “The Cost of Living crisis is affecting everyone. It is awful that many householders are having to make difficult decisions about how to heat their homes and feed their families.

“That is why our teams are working hard to ensure tens of thousands of Swansea families have benefited from the scheme already. But with Christmas and colder winter weather coming, we want to make sure that everyone who is entitled to help gets it.”

Over the last few months the council’s Revenues and Benefits Team who are administering the Welsh Government grants scheme has sent out 21,000 letters to people eligible for the fuel support payment and around 20% of them have still to apply.

In addition the team has fielded more than 141,000 phone calls, emails and face-to-face meetings to help people get what they are entitled to.

Cllr Stewart said: “I want to thank the team for doing a great job supporting residents, it makes a difference in people’s lives every day. The team is still available and ready to step in to answer queries and support people through the process if they need it.

“It’s vital that people apply for the grants that are still on offer. If they don’t, they can’t be paid. We will also not be able to accept late applications.”

He added: “Throughout the pandemic Swansea Council was there for the people of Swansea and businesses communities, supporting them through unprecedented times.

“We will also be side-by-side with them through the cost of living crisis.”

Under the scheme, households eligible to apply are those where the person who has to pay for the fuel for their home, or their partner, is entitled to one or more of a range of benefits at any time between September 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023.

These include Income Support, Income-Based Job Seekers’ Allowance, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits, Pension Credit or Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance but there are other benefits that make people eligible. People may also be entitled if other adults or children living with them are receiving certain benefits.

More details about the schemes, the online application form and FAQs are on the Council’s website: www.swansea.gov.uk/fuelsupport .

Anyone who is eligible to apply for a Winter Fuel Support Payment, whether they are sent an invitation to claim the payment or not, can use the form to apply.