DWP help and other cost-of-living payments of up to £2,785 you can claim before Christmas

While autumn may herald the charm of cosy evenings at home, it can also bring about a sense of worry. The chillier weather leads to higher energy bills and shops are already nudging customers that Christmas, with its often additional expense, is just around the corner.

However, assistance is available. The Department of Work and Pensions is offering some financial aid before Christmas and other support is also on offer. This can contribute towards covering the increased energy costs - and there's even a small bonus to assist with the festive season. A variety of grants, vouchers and extra benefits are available - and here are six you might be able to get help from.

Household Support Fund - up to £600

If you're finding it difficult to afford basic necessities, your local council may be able to provide help. The Household Support Fund could be of assistance if you're struggling to afford items such as:

• energy and water bills
• food
• essential items

Your local authority may also offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays. Councils determine how their schemes are run, reports Chronicle Live.

Some councils distribute funds through local charities and community groups, and some limit household applications to one per year. Check with your local council to find out what support is available.

The funding is targeted at anyone who's vulnerable or unable to pay for essentials. You don't have to be receiving benefits to get help from your local council, and if you are receiving benefits, they will not be affected if you receive a payment.

Winter Fuel Payment - up to £300

Most pensioners are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, a financial aid designed to assist with winter expenses. Depending on factors such as your age and living situation, this payment can be worth up to £300.

This payment will not impact your benefits and typically does not require a claim. If you receive any of the following benefits, there is no need to make a claim:

• State Pension
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Carer's Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• awards from the War Pensions Scheme
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Incapacity Benefit
• Industrial Death Benefit

However, if you do not receive any of these benefits, you will need to make a claim if either of the following apply:

• you've not got the Winter Fuel Payment before
• you've deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment

While the majority of eligible individuals automatically receive this payment, those earning over £35,000 annually will have to repay it unless they choose to opt out.

Warm Home Discount - £150

For those finding it difficult to cover their energy bills, the Warm Home Discount Scheme may provide some relief. This scheme offers a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.

The discount is available to individuals in England, Wales and Scotland who are on certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit. If you qualify, your electricity supplier will apply the discount directly to your bill, usually between October and March. The money is not paid directly to you.

The scheme for 2025 opens in October and the discount is typically applied automatically if you're eligible. Only those on a low income in Scotland need to apply - contact your energy supplier to do so.

If your supplier provides both gas and electricity and you're eligible, you may be able to apply the discount to your gas bill instead. However, it's important to note that not all energy firms are part of the scheme.

The government currently lists 22 companies as participants:. The following suppliers are part of the scheme:

• 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
• Affect Energy - see Octopus Energy
• Boost
• British Gas
• Bulb Energy - see Octopus Energy
• Co-op Energy - see Octopus Energy
• E - also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
• Ecotricity
• E.ON Next
• EDF
• Fuse Energy
• Good Energy
• Home Energy
• London Power
• Octopus Energy
• Outfox the Market
• OVO
• Rebel Energy
• Sainsbury's Energy
• Scottish Gas - see British Gas
• ScottishPower
• Shell Energy Retail
• So Energy
• Tomato Energy
• TruEnergy
• Utilita
• Utility Warehouse

Energy grants - up to £1,700

For those grappling with gas and electricity bills, assistance of up to £1,700 may be available. This aid is designed to help individuals who have fallen behind on their payments, offering grants of up to £1,700.

Several energy companies, including British Gas, EDF, Eon, OVO, Boost, Eon Next, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE, Utilita and Utility Warehouse, offer such schemes. While they all differ, for instance, the British Gas Energy Trust has an Individual and Families Fund available to prepayment meter customers who owe between £50 and £1,700 in energy debt or credit account customers who owe between £250 and £1,700.

You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply. It's open to people who are supplied by firms without their own schemes as well. Those who get their energy from a company with its own scheme might also be eligible if they have applied to their own provider's scheme and been declined.

However, there are other terms to consider. These include living in England, Scotland or Wales, having a household income of less than £18,723, or having someone in the home who is registered disabled and receiving a disability benefit. For full details visit its website.

Cold Weather Payment - £25 a week

Should temperatures plummet to below freezing for a prolonged spell, you may be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. This amounts to £25 for each seven-day consecutive period when temperatures in your postcode region are recorded as, or predicted to be, zero degrees or below on average between November 1 and March 31.

The payment goes to those receiving specific benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support and Universal Credit, or Support for Mortgage Interest. It operates automatically, meaning there's typically no requirement to make an application.

Scottish residents cannot receive Cold Weather Payments but may instead be entitled to an annual Winter Heating Payment.

Christmas bonus - £10

The Christmas Bonus represents a single tax-free £10 payment distributed before Christmas to those receiving particular benefits during the qualifying week.This usually falls within the first full week of December.

No claim is necessary - payment should arrive automatically. To be eligible, you must receive at least one of the qualifying benefits during the qualifying week:

• Adult Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer's Allowance
• Carer Support Payment
• Child Disability Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
• Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
• Mobility Supplement
• Pension Age Disability Payment
• Pension Credit - the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
• Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
• State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
• Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
• War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
• War Widow's Pension
• Widowed Mother's Allowance
• Widowed Parent's Allowance
• Widow's Pension

Married couples, civil partners or those cohabiting will both receive the payment if they meet the criteria. If you have not claimed your State Pension or do not get at least one of the other qualifying benefits, you will not receive a Christmas Bonus.