27/10/2025
Blackpool discretionary
The Blackpool discretionary support scheme can provide assistance to vulnerable people who need:
Short term emergency support
Help to become established or maintain independence in the community
We are unable to give cash.
Short term emergency support
Assistance for gas and electricity pre-payment customers
Energy firms have put in place measures to help pre-payment customers who are struggling or unable to top up.
Suppliers will deal with issues on a case-by-case basis, but if you can’t top up your meter or are struggling to buy credit, please contact your provider directly before making an application to discretionary support.
Details of the help energy suppliers have made available, including contact telephone numbers
Other support
Support may be given to people who, in an emergency situation, do not have the resources to meet the basic needs of themselves or their family and who:
Have a local connection (see below)
Are over 16 years old
Don’t have access to sufficient income, savings or credit
Have not had an award of this kind in the last 12 months
Available help
No cash payments will be made.
The type of help available may include:
Referral to a food bank for a food parcel
Referral to a local children’s centre
Arrangement to top up emergency supply of gas or electric
Non-refundable travel warrant for emergency travel
Referral to another agency
Help to become established or maintain independence in the community
Support may be given to people who need assistance to move to, or maintain their own home, or where there are exceptional family circumstances. To be eligible for the scheme residents must:
Have a local connection (see below)
Are over 16 years old
Receive a qualifying means tested benefit
Need help to move to their own home, to stay in their own home, or where the family is under exceptional pressure and needs practical help
Available help
No cash payments will be made.
The type of help available could include:
Beds or bedding
Essential furniture items
Essential kitchen equipment
Referral to another agency or fund, for example Discretionary Housing Payments
Local connection
This is where a person has lived in Blackpool for at least 6 of the last 12 months, or lived in Blackpool for at least 3 of the last 5 years, or have close or immediate family, e.g. mother, father, brother, sister, adult son or daughter who live in Blackpool and have lived in Blackpool for more than 5 years, or have permanent employment in Blackpool.
Application process
There is no face to face service and applications are not normally completed over the phone
https://blackpool-gwa.egovhub.net/launch
