There are only a few months left before the Household Support Fund ends in 2026, and with it, hundreds of pounds of cash payments and help with bills across various parts of the UK will no longer be available.

That’s why anyone who is eligible to claim a cost of living payment from the fund via their local council is being urged to do so as soon as possible.

In Portsmouth, households can get up to £200 right now to help with energy or water bills.

The payment starts at £150 for single-person households, rising to £200 for a couple or a family.

Those who don’t live in Portsmouth can also access the scheme, as it’s made available by every council in England, but those living elsewhere may get a different amount or have to go through different eligibility criteria.

That’s because the scheme is devolved, meaning the DWP hands cash to various local authorities nationwide and those councils then decide how to distribute the money with their own individual local schemes.

In Portsmouth, you must apply by 12 noon on February 26, 2026 and meet one of these eligibility criteria:

• pensioners receiving a disability benefit

• carers and caring households receiving either Carer’s Allowance or the Carers Element of Universal Credit

• care leavers and care experienced adults

• low-income working aged adults unable to work, specifically those with Limited Capacity for Work (LCW) who are not receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

• single parents receiving Universal Credit, which includes both a child element and a housing costs element — including those living in temporary council accommodation where they pay their own utility bills

Your household income must also be below:

Portsmouth Council says about the scheme: “This scheme to help low-income household with rising energy and water bills. If you’re eligible, you’ll get £150 for a single person household, £200 for a couple or family.”

In other areas of the UK, Surrey County Council is offering up to £300 supermarket vouchers in its Everyday Essentials E-voucher scheme funded by the HSF, while Nottingham City Council makes £100 of vouchers available at the start of each month.

Doncaster Council offers up to £300 of cost of living payments for households with children.

The UK government’s website says: “Funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

“If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme.

Councils decide how to run their schemes. There may be differences in eligibility criteria, if or how you need to apply [and] who money is given to.

“For example, some councils share out money through local charities and community groups and some limit household applications to one per year.”

Check here to see if you can apply.