Support for Somerset households with food and energy bills this winter

You may be eligible for support from Somerset Council and the Household Support Fund

Somerset families and residents who are struggling to pay the bills this winter could be eligible for support with the cost of food, energy, water, and other essentials over the coming months. Somerset Council’s ‘Help Through Winter’ campaign, funded by the Government’s Household Support Fund, is supporting charities and organisations to help residents and families in need across Somerset between October 2024 and March 2025.

Support includes

• Help with managing money, such as providing vouchers towards your gas and electricity or food bills, providing ‘move-in’ grants via our Somerset partners to fund essential furniture such as white goods, mattresses and carpets, and more.
• Funding for existing community hubs via Somerset Community Foundation. This includes financial support for food banks, paying for activities that you can enjoy with your families, and keeping designated Warm Spaces in your community open for those most in need.

Am I eligible for support?

We’re distributing the money through our communities so that there is support available for everyone in Somerset. However, there are some elements of our offer which are means-tested, which means that you need to earn below a certain amount to be able to claim them. We encourage you to check our website to find out which support you are eligible for, as there are lots of different offers available.

Additional support this winter includes:

• Pension Credit

  Residents are also encouraged to check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit, which provides extra money to help with living costs for people over state pension age and on a low income. Apply online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

• Libraries

  All Somerset libraries have been designated as Warm Welcome Spaces, which means anyone in the community is welcome to come and spend time in the library. You do not need to be a member of our libraries to use them.

• Help4All

  There is further information and advice, including food support for families and residents, parenting support, support with isolation, and more on the Connect Somerset website: www.connectsomerset.org.uk

All support available and how to apply is on the .

If you or someone you know is struggling, call 0300 123 2224 or visit: Somerset Council website , Scan the QR code below or search bit.ly/help-through-winter .