A range of financial and wider support is available to help Portsmouth households this winter.
The Government allocated a limited amount of household support funding to councils which must be offered to people in the greatest hardship. We understand there are some in Portsmouth who don’t qualify for these schemes but are finding costs difficult. Included below is some of the universal support available for all, including our cost of living hub, food hubs and pantries, money and home energy advice, and warm and welcome spaces.
Household support fund schemes – check full eligibility online.
Utilities payment scheme – £150 or £200 payments for low-income household groups towards energy and water bills. Open to specific household types.
- Eligible single person households with a monthly income below £935 can apply for £150.
- Eligible couples or families with a monthly income below £1,350 can apply for £200.
- Open: 9 December 2025 to 29 January 2026
Family voucher scheme – £30 food vouchers are automatically going to all Portsmouth children who receive benefits-related free school meals through their school. £30 vouchers are available for children aged 0-19 in households earning £1,870 or less a month, if they don’t qualify for a school voucher. Also open to households with women 20 weeks or more pregnant, families with home educated children, families who had a school’s voucher and have other children aged 0-19 not at school.
- Open 18 December 2025 to 26 February 2026
Exceptional hardship scheme – Portsmouth households in severe financial hardship can apply for a payment for food, bills or essential purchases. Based on household income and other criteria, open to people who haven’t had an exceptional hardship payment within the last six months.
- Opening early January 2026
Find out more about these household support fund schemes, full eligibility and how to apply online: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/…/household-support-fund/. For help to apply call the council on 023 9268 8010. People will need to apply and schemes may close early if all funds are allocated.
HAF Fun Pompey – Running over the winter school break (20 December to 3 January), open to children aged 5 to 16 who receive benefits-related free school meals offering activities and hot meals for free. Book HAF places.
Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:
“We are again offering household support fund payments and vouchers to help the city’s most in need this winter. We know that some people who don’t qualify for these schemes are also in financial hardship, and wider food, money, debt and home energy advice is available to anyone through the council and local support agencies.
“Please do look at the support available to you and your loved ones, our friendly council staff can help Portsmouth residents to apply.”
Other support
- Warm welcome spaces – are being offered in all Portsmouth libraries, by community organisations, in Portsmouth museum and art gallery and Cumberland House Natural History Museum. These places are warm, welcoming and inclusive and many offer extras such as free wi-fi, refreshments and activities.
- Cost of living hub – lots of online information on getting help with food, energy and travel bills, low-cost activities, money, debt, housing, jobs and health and wellbeing support. Our cost of living helpline is open weekdays, 9am to 5pm (closes at 4.30pm Fridays) on 023 9284 1047.
- Find a list of food banks, pantries, larders and community meals, locations and times.
- Advice Portsmouth – supported by Portsmouth City Council, offers free, confidential and local advice on bills, benefits, debt, housing and employment issues. Drop in and outreach services, call 023 9279 4340, text 07789 550593 or email advice.portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk
- Switched on Portsmouth – Help to lower your energy bills, home energy advice visits, and free helpline on 0800 260 5907.
- Explore the HIVE directory to find local organisations supporting people across Portsmouth.
- Find ways of helping and volunteering for local good causes in your community in our latest cost of living blog.