Eligible households in Portsmouth are being urged to apply for a one-off £200 payment designed to help with spiralling utility bills. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Household Support Fund Utilities Payment scheme is now open, but the deadline for applications is fast approaching.
Key Dates and Eligibility Criteria
The application window opened on 8 December 2025 and will close at 12:00 noon on Thursday 29 January 2026. However, Portsmouth City Council has issued a stark warning: due to limited funding, the scheme could close earlier if all the available money is allocated.
To qualify for the £200 support, a household must meet all of the following strict criteria. Firstly, applicants must reside within specific Portsmouth postcodes: PO1 to PO6, or PO7 5AT, PO7 5AU, PO7 5AX, PO7 5AY, PO7 5AZ, PO7 5BA, PO7 5BS, PO7 5BT, or PO7 5BU.
Applicants must be aged 16 or over. Their total net household income from earnings and pensions—excluding benefits and tax credits—must not exceed £935 for a single person or £1350 for a couple in the month before applying.
Which Benefits Qualify for the Payment?
Critically, at least one person in the household must be receiving one of eight specified DWP benefits. The primary qualifying group are those on Universal Credit which includes both a child element and a housing costs element.
Alternatively, the applicant or their partner can be in receipt of Carer's Allowance, the Carer element in Universal Credit, or the Carer premium on Pension Credit.
A third qualifying route involves those receiving the state pension alongside either Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Attendance Allowance, or Disability Living Allowance (DLA). This brings the total number of qualifying DWP benefits to eight.
How to Apply and What Happens Next
Households must submit a complete application and provide all requested evidence of their circumstances before the scheme closes. The local authority has stated that as part of the process, applicants may be contacted for a more in-depth assessment, either via telephone or a face-to-face meeting.
This targeted support comes as many families continue to struggle with the high cost of living, particularly energy and water bills. The £200 lump sum is intended to provide direct, practical assistance to those on low incomes who are also in receipt of specific means-tested or disability-related benefits.
Residents of Portsmouth who believe they meet the criteria are advised to gather the necessary documentation and apply without delay to avoid missing out on this vital financial help.
