FAMILIES can get an extra £100 cost of living payment to help towards energy bills this winter.
The government support is dished out from a pot of money worth £842million.
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The help comes as part of the Household Support Fund (HSF) which was first launched in October 2021 to help struggling Brits.
Councils up and down the country have been given a slice of the £842million funding to dish out to those in need.
It has been extended three times since then and a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024, has recently been confirmed.
What you can get depends on where you live and your personal circumstances.
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Some councils have given out cash in the form of a bank transfer, while others have dished out supermarket vouchers.
If you are unsure of which local council you are covered by you can check on the government’s website.
Just pop your postcode into the government’s council locator tool on its website and it will tell you who you need to contact.
Once you know who your local council is and you think you might be eligible check with them to see what is being offered in your area.
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Residents in the market town of Dudley can apply for payments ranging from £100 to £300.
While Buckinghamshire Council has also extended its support after receiving £4.8million from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
Residents in the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead also got free cash to go towards food and energy costs.
Who is eligible?
Ashford Borough Council is issuing eligible residents a minimum of £100 to help with energy costs.
If you think you might be eligible the application window is open from now until Wednesday, February, 7.
However, it is worth bearing in mind that if all of the funding is exhausted before then, the closing date will be sooner.
Ashford Council has a dedicated Household Support Fund web page on its main website.
To be eligible for the funding you need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be a resident in the Borough of Ashford.
- You must be 16 years old or over.
- You must have a gross annual income of less than £40,000 before tax, including all benefits and employment income.
- You do not have more than £1000 in savings, not including funds you have identified for the payment of regular bills.
- You are responsible for paying utility bills for the property.
All applications must also be supported with a bank account statement for December to January 2024.
It states on the council website that payments will be made directly into the applicant’s bank account, on or around February, 10.
How do I apply ?
To apply for the funding you need to fill out an online application form.
The window to apply for the Ashford cost of living payment closes at noon on Wednesday, February 7, or sooner as explained above.
If you need help to complete the online form you can contact Ashford’s Household Support team via email or over the telephone.
What other help is available?
If you don’t qualify for help via the HSF there is still other financial support available.
We have a list of seven cold weather payments you can get now as the temperature drops.
Also, you could be entitled to a cost of living payment.
Millions of households will soon receive the third instalment of the £900 cost of living payment direct into their bank accounts.
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The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed it will issue the upcoming instalment of £299 between February 6-22.
We tell you exactly what to look out for on your bank statement if you are due a payment in February
