HARD-UP families could get up to £105 FREE cash to help pay for food and more.
The cash will help struggling households as they battle the cost of living crisis, with further rocketing energy bills on the way, as well as blows from tax rises and increasing food costs.
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The help is thanks to the Household Support Fund, which has been giving out financial aid to help cash-strapped families get by since October last year.
Plenty had closed off their schemes by the time March had rolled around this year though.
But a shake-up announced in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement meant another £500 million was added to the pot so more families and low income households could benefit.
That money has been dished out to local councils, whose decision it is to divide up funds between those that need it most.
Typically they will each offer out money to cover grocery bills, utility bills and more.
The last bout of funding saw residents in Barnsley in line for up to £200 in vouchers to spend at supermarkets and shops including Aldi, Asda, Argos and Currys, for example.
Meanwhile, those in the Norfolk area can get £120 in food vouchers to cover meals for kids this time around, with the council’s latest hand-out.
In a similar move, Brighton and Hove council is dishing out support.
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It’s not offering up as much, as families will only be entitled to £15 a week, but the help is welcomed as prices on the supermarket shelves continue to soar.
It will also tide parents over as the school holidays approach and they scramble to feed hungry little ones that otherwise would have benefited from free school meals.
In total the government allocated £2.1 million from its Household Support Fund to Brighton and Hove City Council to support the low-income households.
Another £231,000 has been dug up from a left over fund too, to support families with children who receive free school meals.
Parents will be able to get vouchers to the value of £15 per week per child that can be used in Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda, Morrison and M&S, if their child is already eligible for free school meals.
If that’s not the case you can apply online to check your eligibility and get your child onto the scheme or by ringing 01273 293497.
Plenty will be lined up to receive £15 free cash this upcoming May half term break.
The Brighton schools will be set to take a week’s holiday from May 30 which is when most families will be in line to receive the cash help.
They’ll also be able to claim £15 a week during the six week long summer break later in the year too, as children will once again be missing out on school meals during the holiday.
What other help can I get?
More councils are set to dish out their own Household Support Fund grants, but some households may be waiting until September time to claim.
In the meantime, other help is available for more cash-strapped families too, so you don’t have to miss out if you don’t live in the area, or aren’t eligible for the free school meal help.
Brits can apply for much-needed cash and vouchers for food, furniture, bills and more via the welfare assistance scheme, for example – with up to £1,000 on offer.
Meanwhile, many people paying council tax could get their bill reduced – from 25% to 100% off.
Reductions are available for those on low-incomes, people claiming certain benefits, those caring for others as well as other circumstances.
Anyone living in Council Tax bands A-D will see £150 land in their bank accounts soon enough too, thanks to the Council tax rebate.
And later on in the year, households will get £200 off their energy bills in a similar rebate.
That money does have to be paid back though – in the form of £40 added to annual bills over five years from next year.
Some energy customers can apply for an up to £750 grant to help with their energy bills too.
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