Households earning under £31,000 can get free energy help through this government scheme - but they'll have to be quick. The help comes from the cost of living scheme, the Household Support Fund. This is a government-funded scheme - which is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - that has given local councils pots of cash to support struggling households in their area. Each authority decides how it wants to spend the money, and help can range from free cash payments to supermarket vouchers. Warwickshire County Council will be providing vouchers to help residents with their energy bills. The one-off voucher will be given to households which the council considers as in "immediate need". People who are entitled to benefits or eligible for free school meals have already received support through the Household Support Fund scheme. However, the scheme reopened for new applications last week, and households can apply if they are paying their bills by direct debit, receipt of bill or prepay meter. People can apply online, external or by contacting the local welfare scheme directly. The amount you can get will vary and depend on your personal situation. However, the council warned that the funding was limited and the scheme will close on March 28, 2025 - or sooner if all the cash is allocated before then. To be eligible for help, you will need to be: Live in the following district council areas – Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, Nuneaton and Bedworth or North Warwickshire Have a combined gross household income of no more than £31,000 per year Have no household savings Have someone living with a vulnerability If your household satisfies each of the four criteria above, you can apply for support through the Warwickshire Household Support Fund, provided you have not applied for the same support in the previous six months. The council is also working with Act on Energy, external, an organisation that can provide free advice and help with arranging boiler services or repairs. Act on Energy aims to help households with current energy debts and assist in repairing, servicing, or replacing broken boilers and heating systems. Cllr Heather Timms, Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for Environment, Climate and Culture said: “The Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme helps our most vulnerable residents at times of unavoidable crisis when they have no other means of help and through the scheme we are able to distribute the Household Support Fund to families and individuals most in need. “I would encourage any residents who may be struggling with the cost of their energy bills to get in touch as soon as possible – either online or by phone – as we have time limited support available from the current round of funding. We would particularly like to hear from residents who may have previously been in receipt of the winter fuel payment and are no longer eligible but may continue to find it difficult to meet the cost of their fuel bills. “ You are not able to claim this support if you do not live in Warwickshire. However, your local council may still be offering its own Household Support Fund scheme. The scheme is due to end on March 31, 2025, after the Labour government extended it last year with an extra £421million in funding. If you're not a Warwickshire resident, it is worth checking your local council's website to see what help it could potentially offer you before the scheme closes.