Stratford-on-Avon District Council has funding available to support vulnerable households with financial support for those who are struggling to pay their energy bills living in the district. The scheme can support payments for gas, electricity, oil and LPG.

The Stratford Energy Support Fund (SESF) replaces the previous Energy Support Fund (SHEBS), and is administered on behalf of the Council by Act on Energy.

To qualify for help you need to meet the scheme criteria. Please see below for details.

Eligibility

To be eligible households must meet the income and vulnerability criteria listed below.

Income criteria:

• Gross household income of up to £31,000 (not including PIP or DLA)
• No household savings
• A vulnerability from the list shown in the next section

You will be required to provide evidence of income:

• For those on means tested benefits – evidence of award dated within the last three months
• For those not on means tested benefits – bank statements for three months ‍

Applicants must also confirm that someone in the home is vulnerable. This is quite a broad measure so please contact Act on Energy if you are unsure.

Vulnerabilities typically include:

• Long term diagnosed and treated health conditions e.g. COPD
• Households with unmanageable debt
• Pregnant or have young children under the age of five
• Disabled and in receipt of DLA or PIP
• In receipt of related benefits related (not universal) free school meals
• Other vulnerabilities disclosed by households not on the list but accepted at Act on Energy's discretion ‍ ‍

A one-off payment for financial support will be made direct to your provider or as a pre-payment voucher for those paying by card or key.

The amount received will be determined by your household composition:

• Families with children under the age of 18 (or young adults up to age 21 in full time education) could receive £500 via direct payment to their energy supplier or as pre-payment energy vouchers for those paying by key or card
• Single occupants or couples could receive £300 via direct payment to their energy supplier or as pre-payment vouchers for those paying by key or card

You will be required to provide supporting evidence of your vulnerability and a copy of a recent energy bill. ‍ ‍

How to apply

If you need support or want to find out more about eligibility criteria, please visit the Act on Energy website .

Or you can contact Act on Energy directly:

Phone: 0800 988 2881

Email: advice@actonenergy.org.uk