Portsmouth households in severe financial hardship can apply for a payment or voucher from Portsmouth City Council to help pay for things like food and energy bills.
The council has relaunched its Exceptional Hardship scheme, offering one-off payments for residents who are struggling to afford essentials.
Applications are open now. Check if you qualify and apply online by going to www.portsmouth.gov.uk/householdsupportfund. Anyone who can’t apply online can call the dedicated council helpline on 023 9268 8010 to make their application over the phone.
You will need to provide evidence of your income and bank accounts and tell us about why you need help.
Other essentials people can apply for a payment for might include needing to replace a cooker, fridge, freezer, beds and other furniture, flooring, children’s winter clothing or essential repairs to a vehicle or bicycle.
The Exceptional Hardship scheme is one of several schemes the council has developed, funded by a six-month extension of the UK Government’s Household Support Fund to the end of March 2025.
Portsmouth will receive a maximum of £1,888,214 of funding from the UK Government, which Portsmouth City Council will use to fund a range of support for residents who are struggling, including:
- Grants for the local food support network, including food banks, community meals and larders and pantries
- Widening the Holiday Activities and Food programme to more families
- Ensuring all residents continue to get advice and support with the cost of living when they need it
- Food vouchers for families of every child eligible for means-tested free school meals this winter, distributed by schools.
Additionally, the council will open a voucher scheme for families on low income who do not receive means-tested free school meals because their children are not in school, or their income is a bit too high. This scheme will open for applications when the school term ends in December. You can sign up to be notified when the family vouchers scheme launches, by entering your email address on the expression of interest form at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/householdsupportfund
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:
“The cost of living emergency hasn’t gone away, and for many people in Portsmouth things are getting worse. That’s why the council stepped in with our Older Person’s Energy Payment, to help up to 2,000 lower income pensioner households who no longer qualify for the government’s winter fuel payment.
“In addition, we are again allocating Household Support Fund money to different schemes to help as many people as we can. I urge anyone who is struggling to afford food, bills and other essentials to apply for help, or call our cost of living team who are here to help.”
- Anyone worried about money should visit the council’s dedicated cost of living hub website www.portsmouth.gov.uk/costofliving or call the free helpline on 023 9284 1047.
- For more information about the Portsmouth Older Person’s Energy Payment and to check eligibility, go to www.portsmouth.gov.uk/olderpersonsenergypayment