HOUSEHOLDS can get help covering the cost of energy bills with a £200 payment – but they only have days left to apply.

If you use liquid petroleum gas, oil or solid fuel to power your heating you might qualify for the Alternative Fuel Payment.

It's available to households in England, Wales and Scotland and was opened up to two million in total.

The scheme was due to close by February but was extended by three months to May 31.

That means if you are eligible and haven't yet applied, you have just days left to do so.

Who is eligible and how do I apply?

The payment is open to households that are deemed to live off-grid and use alternative fuels for heating.

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You must also live in one of the following:

• a residential park home
• a boat on a permanent residential mooring
• a permanent Gypsy and Traveller site
• a social or private rented accommodation with a business energy connection or communal electricity supply
• a home off the mains electricity or gas grid
• a business property (a farm or a flat above a shop)

You apply via the gov.uk website or can call 0808 175 3287. But make sure you've got the following to hand before you do:

• an email address or phone number
• your bank details
• alternative fuel receipts or other proof that you've been using it within the allotted time period

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After applying you should be sent either an email or letter within six weeks confirming whether you'll get the £200.

If you qualify you'll receive the money directly into your bank account.

What other help can I get?

Millions of households are in line for cost of living payments this year and into 2024.

There are three payments in total and you could be eligible for all of them.

There's one worth £900 which has been split into three instalments of £301, £300 and £299.

Over eight million people are eligible for the help in total and should have received the first instalment.

The second and third instalments are due to be paid this autumn and in spring 2024.

You qualify for the payments if you receive the following benefits:

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Meanwhile, there is another payment worth £150-£300 which will be made to millions of pensioners from November.

You will receive the payment if you qualify for this year's Winter Fuel Payment, which you will get if you were born before September 25, 1957.

The money is essentially a top up to the Winter Fuel Payment which is designed to cover the costs of heating over the colder months.

You will be sent a letter from the Government in October or November if you are eligible for the £150-£300 top up.

Millions with disabilities are set to receive a £150 payment within weeks as well.

On top of this, you might be able to get help via the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842million.

But what you get depends on where you live as each council has been given a unique share of the pot.

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Thousands of households in Wokingham can get £100 in free cash to pay for food or energy bills.

Meanwhile, thousands in Medway can get up to £210 to cover the cost of gas and electricity.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]

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