Thousands of UK households struggling to afford winter fuel costs are being handed up to £200 worth of support.

The money comes from the government’s Household Support Fund which is distributed to local councils by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The funding pot totals £421 million and is used to help vulnerable people afford things like food, energy and water bills and essential items over the winter months.

Local councils are able to decide independently how the money they are…