Vouchers worth £200 each have been sent to over 1,400 eligible households in Swansea who didn’t make a claim for a fuel support payment when the scheme was running between September 2022 and the end of February 2023.
Sent by the Post Office, the vouchers follow-on from Swansea Council letters to each of these households to explain why they’re now being sent a voucher and how to cash it in.
Over 27,000 households had made successful applications to the council for the fuel support scheme and have already been paid. The scheme has now closed.
This means over £5.5 million has now been paid to residents and families to help them manage rising energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We were here for the people of Swansea throughout the pandemic, and we’re here for them throughout the cost of living crisis too.
“Not only did our staff process payments worth over five and a half a million pounds to successful applicants, but they also identified from council records as many eligible households that they could who hadn’t applied for a fuel support payment claim before the application deadline. That’s why we’ve now written to these households and the Post Office has sent them vouchers which they can cash in.
“These vouchers are valid for a month, so we’d urge any household that’s received one to cash it in as soon as possible as the scheme is now closed.
“The payments are among many ways the council is supporting our residents and communities through the cost of living crisis, which is affecting so many people.”
The council has also set up a dedicated one-stop shop website at Swansea.gov.uk/costoflivinghelp where people can access a wide range of support and guidance.
As well as information on payments residents may be entitled to, the website also signposts to organisations that can support anyone with debt or money worries.
Other sections of the website include tips on how to keep your energy costs down, the locations of Swansea Spaces offering a warm welcome to residents, and a list of free or low-cost events and activities available throughout the city.
