Thousands of households in Leicestershire and Nottingham will be eligible to claim £98 energy vouchers from Monday, as part of a national scheme to combat rising fuel costs. The payments form part of the Household Support Fund, a government-backed initiative to assist residents with the cost of living this winter.
The scheme, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is being implemented locally by councils who decide how to distribute the funding. While eligibility and application processes vary across regions, the common aim remains to provide timely relief to financially vulnerable households as heating needs increase during the colder months.
Targeted Support for Families in Leicestershire and Nottingham
In Leicestershire, fuel vouchers worth up to £98 will be available from Monday, January 5, following a brief pause in applications over the festive period. According to information from Leicestershire County Council, the vouchers are issued in two tiers: £98 for families and £56 for single-person households. These can be delivered in the form of Wonde/fuel e-vouchers or pre-paid energy cards, depending on the household’s circumstances.
The council specifies that referrals must come through professional channels. This means that residents cannot apply independently; instead, a support worker, registered charity, or health professional must submit the referral on their behalf. The scheme, part of a larger allocation from the DWP’s £742 million fund, is structured into two funding cycles annually (opening in May and November) with households permitted to apply once per cycle.
The support is designed primarily for those using prepayment meters, offering emergency top-ups for individuals at risk of self-disconnection due to financial hardship. “Vouchers with the value of £98 (family) or £56 (single person) [will be] issued per application,” Leicestershire County Council confirmed.
Meanwhile, Nottingham City Council is releasing 1,000 energy vouchers worth £98 each, with the application window running from 10:00am on Monday, 5 January to midnight on Sunday, 11 January. According to the council, these vouchers are open to new and returning applicants, regardless of whether they had previously claimed a voucher in 2025 or are still awaiting one from the November issue.
Distribution Timelines and Access Differ by Location
Though the Household Support Fund operates across every council in England, the method of delivery is highly localised. This means both eligibility requirements and distribution schedules are subject to the discretion of individual councils. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, “councils decide how to run their schemes,” including how funds are split and whether applications are managed directly or through third-party community groups.
This variation has led to different types of support being available across regions. In Nottingham, the £98 support is aimed solely at covering energy costs, with no supermarket vouchers included in the January issue. Those unsuccessful in the first application window are advised they may reapply from 2 February to 8 February.
In contrast, some councils limit the number of applications to one per year, while others may tie eligibility to specific household circumstances such as having dependent children or existing financial vulnerabilities. Despite these regional differences, all payments are designed to not affect benefit entitlements, ensuring the support remains accessible to a broad group of residents.
While delays in processing are possible, Nottingham City Council notes that successful applicants may need to wait until 28 February to receive their vouchers, the assistance remains a significant source of relief for many heading into the year’s coldest period.
