THOUSANDS of struggling households could be eligible for extra financial support through the Household Support Fund – here’s how to apply.
Inflation currently sits at 10.7% causing misery for millions, and energy bills are set to rocket £3,000 from April when a new price cap comes into force.
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While times are hard, there are schemes in place to help families through.
The Household Support Fund is a scheme that was launched in October last year to help Brits pay their way through winter amid a cost of living crisis.
In September, the government has released new funding for local councils to dish out to hard-up residents.
The new £421million pot of cash will be available from October this year until March next year.
It will replace the current pot of funding which ran out on September 30.
As part of the scheme, councils up and down the country have been given a slice of £1.5 billion million worth of funding.
Each local authority has can dish out the cash to people in their area and the help available depends on where you live.
And because each individual council is in charge of what they do with the money, there are different rules around how to apply for help.
In addition to the government’s Household Support Fund, councils across the country are giving out help in the form of free cash and supermarket vouchers – particularly over winter.
This help could net you up to £325 in regions like North Yorkshire where residents are set to receive electronic vouchers in the coming weeks.
Similarly, Guilford council has announced its residents could be in line for up to £400 worth of help.
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You will need to be quick if you want to claim this support, with some schemes having a cut-off date of January 31, 2023 – we’ve got a live blog here with all the latest info.
We’ve taken a look at what you need to do to get the free cash.
How to apply for the Household Support fund
How you apply for help and what you can get will depend on where you live.
Councils decide how they want to hand out their portion of the fund and to who.
That means who’s eligible for help is a bit of a postcode lottery, but the money is usually given to households on low incomes to help pay for food, energy bills and other essential items.
The first thing to do is find out which authority is responsible for your application.
Many councils have published guidance on their websites, so once you know your council, it’s probably best to google and see how to apply.
You can do that using the government’s local council checker tool by inputting your postcode.
Who’s eligible?
Eligibility for the fund can differ from council to council.
For example, Herefordshire council was allocated over £1million for its HSF and dished out one-off £60 payments to residents in the area.
To be eligible you needed to be living in Herefordshire, be on a low income and in receipt of Universal Credit.
But then Ealing Council gave out £25 supermarket vouchers to some families in its area.
So, eligibility can change depending on where you live.
You may also have to prove you’re experiencing financial hardship.
You should go to your council’s website to find out whether you are eligible for its HSF.
Again, exactly what the council’s will be dishing out will also differ from place to place.
So, in Runnymede, the council is offering up to £150 for electricity, gas and water to people on certain benefits.
While in Ealing, families with children under the age of five, who get housing benefit and/or council tax reduction are being given £90 in July.
And Bromsgrove and Redditch residents were able to apply for the HSF through Citizens Advice, with the maximum amount awarded per household £500.
It’s worth remembering that not all councils have announced how they will be giving out the money.
If you are in doubt try calling your council and asking whether they are currently doing anything for the scheme.
When you’ll get help automatically
In some cases, payments are made automatically to residents who receive means-tested benefits, so there’s no need to do anything.
But others need to make applications for the support directly to their relevant council.
So it is always worth checking your council’s website.
If your payment doesn’t come automatically and you don’t apply for example, there is a chance you won’t get the money you are due.
Also make sure you keep a look out for letters sent from your local authority, as they might contain important information on how to claim.
North Yorkshire County Council sent out letters to people who were eligible for a payment – but they then required people to come forwards and claim the cash.
When you need to be referred
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council had a scheme where it was giving out supermarket vouchers, which ended in March.
Again, it is worth going to your council and asking if you need any kind of referral to be paid.
Some councils have requested that other organisations refer people before they are given cash.
The council chose organisations like Citizens Advice to identify and refer residents who may be eligible for a voucher.
When you need to apply to your council
Sometimes you will need to apply for the funding from your council.
For example, Birmingham’s fund is currently being dished out to local residents and offers £200 to cover the cost of food, gas, electricity and water bills.
The fund is available for families with kids under 18 and pensioners in financial hardship, as well as those in work too.
Residents will need to be getting some financial help already, like council tax support or certain benefits.
In Birmingham, you need to contact your local partner organisation.
They’ll complete an eligibility assessment and later submit your application for you.
You can find a full list of partner organisations here.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
