STRUGGLING families will get £94 paid directly into their bank accounts in days.
The help comes from the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is a pot worth £842million.
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The HSF is money that the Government has shared out between councils in England to help those who are most in need.
The scheme was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid a cost of living crisis.
Each council gets to decide how to share their portion of the fund so the help available will vary depending on where you live.
Some councils are offering out food or utility bill vouchers while others are making bank transfers.
If you are unsure who your local council is, you can type your postcode into the government’s council locator tool on its website to find out.
Who is eligible?
Residents in the borough of Walsall Council who are in receipt of council tax reduction and have children included on the claim will receive direct payments.
The payment will be £140 per child paid in three installments during the year.
The first payment was made in April and the other two will be made in August and December.
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This means that if you are a family with two children you should see £94 land in your bank account in August.
Walsall Council is also offering additional help through Walsall’s Local Welfare Provision Scheme.
There will be a process for households to make a direct application for support if they meet the following criteria.
- Must be aged over 16 and a resident of Walsall
- Suffering from financial hardship
- Not receiving adequate support through another government scheme
- Responsible for payment of rent, mortgage, gas, electric or water bills where they live
- Combined household capital totalling under £6,000
- For single applicants in gainful employment, they must have a total household income of under £25,000 gross.
- For joint applicants in gainful employment, they must have a total household income of under £30,000 gross.
Other help may be available for certain households in rented accommodation and at risk of eviction due to rent arrears.
How do I apply?
Residents who are eligible will receive payments directly into their bank account without having to do anything.
If you think you fall into any of the above criteria you can apply online on the government website.
Applicants will need to register and create an account in order to make an application.
The process is different depending on which council you fall under.
Not all schemes are open for application at the moment so you will need to check with your local council.
What other help can I get?
If you aren’t eligible for help via the Household Support Fund, you might be entitled to a cost of living payment.
The Government is handing out payments to millions of people this year and into 2024. They are worth £900, £300 and £150, totalling £1,350.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be entitled to all three.
The £900 payment has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The first instalment has already been made to millions of people.
The second and third instalments will be made for most people this autumn and in spring 2024 respectively.
In North Yorkshire thousands of locals received electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325 and the council have stated they will be delivering a fourth phase of help later this year.
Buckinghamshire Council have also extended their support after receiving £4.8million for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
And Some hard-up households are getting £125 cost of living payments paid directly into their bank accounts.
While elsewhere in the country thousands can apply for a £145 one-off payment to help with food and energy costs.
