UK households may get DWP support worth £2,785 before Christmas | Personal Finance | Finance
Household Support Fund – up to £600
If you are struggling to afford everyday essentials, your local council might be able to help through the Household Support Fund. Support can include things like food vouchers during school holidays, and each council runs its scheme differently—some work with charities, others limit how often you can apply. You don’t need to be on benefits to qualify, and receiving help won’t affect any benefits you already get.
Winter Fuel Payment – up to £300
Most pensioners are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, a financial aid designed to help with winter costs. The amount, which can be up to £300, is determined by factors such as your age and who you live with.
This payment won’t affect your benefits and typically doesn’t require a claim. You don’t need to claim it if you’re receiving certain benefits, such as:
Pension Credit
Universal Credit
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Carer’s Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Income Support
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
awards from the War Pensions Scheme
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Incapacity Benefit
Industrial Death Benefit
Warm Home Discount – £150
If you’re struggling with energy bills, the Warm Home Discount Scheme can help by giving a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill. It’s available in England, Wales, and Scotland for people on certain benefits like Universal Credit. The discount is usually applied automatically between October and March, but low-income households in Scotland need to apply through their energy supplier. If your supplier provides both gas and electricity, you might be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead. Keep in mind, not all energy companies take part in the scheme.
The government currently lists 22 companies as participants:
100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
Boost
British Gas
Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
Ecotricity
E.ON Next
EDF
Fuse Energy
Good Energy
Home Energy
London Power
Octopus Energy
Outfox the Market
OVO
Rebel Energy
Sainsbury’s Energy
Scottish Gas – see British Gas
ScottishPower
Shell Energy Retail
So Energy
Tomato Energy
TruEnergy
Utilita
Utility Warehouse
Energy grants – up to £1,700
If you’re struggling to pay your gas or electricity bills, you could get help with grants of up to £1,700. Many energy companies, like British Gas, EDF, Eon, and others, offer support schemes—though each one works differently.
For example, British Gas helps both prepayment and credit customers with energy debt, even if you’re not one of their customers. You may also qualify if your own supplier doesn’t offer help or has already turned down your application. To be eligible, you usually need to live in England, Scotland or Wales, have a household income under £18,723, or have someone in your home who receives disability benefits.
Cold Weather Payment – £25 a week
If the weather stays at or below freezing for seven days between November and March, you could get a £25 Cold Weather Payment. It’s for people on certain benefits like Pension Credit or Universal Credit and is paid automatically—no need to apply. If you live in Scotland, you won’t get this payment, but you might qualify for a yearly Winter Heating Payment instead.
Christmas bonus – £10
The Christmas Bonus represents a one-off tax-free £10 sum distributed before Christmas to those receiving particular benefits during the qualifying week. No claim is necessary – payment should arrive automatically.
To be eligible, you must receive at least one of the qualifying benefits during the “qualifying week”. This typically falls within the first complete week of December.
Married couples, civil partners or cohabiting people will both receive the payment if they meet the criteria. Without claiming your State Pension or entitlement to another qualifying benefit, you won’t receive a Christmas Bonus.