Support with Money, Debt & Mental Wellbeing

Energy Bills Support - funded by HM Government

***APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 31 MAY 2023***

Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding

Applications to the Government's Energy Bills Support Scheme - Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) have opened, bringing more, much-needed help to many Gosport residents. 
EBSS Alternative Funding means that households who didn't receive the original energy bills support, such as those without their own electricity meter or without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, can receive a £400 support payment.

Resident in a care home? Dont Miss out! (PDF) [889KB]

Alternative Fuel Payment - Alternative Fund

If you don't heat your home with mains gas and use an alternative fuel which could include oil, biomass and bottled gas, you might also be able to get an additional £200 payment, known as the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP).

Residents can apply and see the full eligibility criteria for the EBSS Alternative Funding and AFP via the gov.uk website until Wednesday 31 May 2023. A Dedicated helpline is also available for residents who need support to complete an application or cannot apply online. The freephone number, 0808 175 3287 will be open from 8.00am - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Once an application has been made, The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will make a series of checks. Once those checks have been completed, the details are then given a final check by Gosport Borough Council to ensure that the resident lives at the address they have provided. If the application is approved, a one-off payment will be made directly to the resident with no need to repay. It may take up 30 working days to process an application so eligible residents are encouraged to apply as soon as they can.

Last updated 17 May 2023

Household Support Fund (HSF) 2023 - Tranche 4 

Additional funding has been made available from the UK Government to Councils for support via the Household Support Fund. This fund is to support those most in need and to assist with significantly rising living costs.

This is part of a wider package of financial support from the Government to help with the cost of living.

Hampshire Councty Council are currently developing the local HSF scheme for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It is expected that the funding will be directed towards issuing supermarket vouchers to eligible residents (criteria yet to be finalised)

Where the provision of supermarket vouchers is agreed, these will be issued in autumn 2023. Further updates will be posted here once the scheme has been finalised. 

Last updated 17/05/2023

Council Tax Support Fund 2023-24

About the fund

The government announced £100 million of funding for local authorities to deliver additional support to households to assist with Council Tax increases for 2023-24. It applies to both working age and pension age households receiving Council Tax Support (CTS) during 2023-24.

The Council Tax Support Fund is divided into two distinct elements as follows:-

• The minimum reduction in Council Tax liability of £25 for all taxpayers who are in receipt of Council Tax Support: and
• Discretionary support

Gosport Borough Council is using the funding to provide the government reduction of £25, plus an additional discretionary local reduction of £8, giving a maximum total reduction of £33.

If you qualify for the grant we will award it automatically and you will receive an updated council tax bill. The grant shows on your bill as 'Council Tax Support Fund'.

Note:-

• Where a taxpayer's liability for 2023-24 is less than £33 (after CTS, discounts and reliefs are applied) then their liability will be reduced to nil. 
• Where a taxpayer's liability for 2023-24 is nil, no reduction to the council tax bill will be available.  

The Council has been allocated limited amount funding and in view of this, should the allocation be exhausted, the policy of the Council will be to cease any further reductions in liability. Where this occurs, any tax payer may Exceptional Hardship Payment under the Council's existing Exceptional Hardship Policy 2023-24 (PDF) [324KB] ; with each case being considered on its own merits in line with the legislation. Any reduction in liability under this policy shall apply for the 2023-24 financial year only.

Last updated 18 April 2023

Cost of living and money worries

For information and advice about the Help for Households including food, money worries and mental health.

The Connect to Support website is to help you to stay independent for longer by providing you with resources to look after yourself, stay safe and connected with your local community.

Get more information about money matters here

Help with Housing Costs (rent and council tax)

If you are struggling to pay your rent or council tax, help is available. You may be able to get Universal Credit, Local Council Tax Support or in some cases Housing Benefit. 

You can use the Benefit Calculator to help you find out what you can claim.

Discretionary Payments

Discretionary Housing Payments and Discretionary Council Tax Support  are additional help you can apply for, if you are already getting Universal Credit Housing Element, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support. The funds are limited and therefore any payments are normally for a temporary period.  

(Please note DHP cannot be awarded to pay for ineligible service charges, water, fuel, increases in rent due to rent arrears or sanctions applied to your benefits).

Council Tax Energy Rebate 

All eligible households in Bands A-D have now received either a £150 Energy Rebate payment to their bank account or a transfer to their Council Tax account. This scheme is now closed. Revised Council Tax bills have been issued to households affected, showing the transfer and revised payment schedules for the remainder of the year.

An Energy Rebate Discretionary Scheme is available for households that did not qualify for the standard scheme.

Mental Wellbeing Hampshire is a partnership of organisations working to support good mental health and wellbeing in our communities.

There are benefits for everyone if we stay fit and healthy. Healthy people generally have a better quality of life, more independence, are able to make their own choices, and take an active part in their community.

Hampshire County Council's strategy outlines how we want to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for everyone in Hampshire, driven by individual choice and with less dependency on health and social care provision.