HOUSEHOLDS have just hours left to claim £200 in free cash to help pay for energy bills and food.
The help comes via the government’s Household Support Fund which is worth £842million.
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The fund has been shared between councils in England which are distributing the cash.
That means what you can get varies depending on where you live, but in most cases help is offered to those on a low income or benefits.
Households in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area can get grant vouchers worth £200 to cover the cost of food or energy bills.
The vouchers are being distributed by BCP Council through Citizens Advice BCP in three batches.
But the first round is closing tomorrow which means eligible households have just hours left to apply.
You can make a claim if you meet certain criteria. To be eligible you must:
- Live in the BCP Council area
- Be over the age of 16 and living independently of parents or carers
- Be struggling to pay for essentials because you don’t have enough money to pay for them
- Provide the required proof of your identity, BCP Council residency and household financial information, including a summary for every person in your household not in full-time education. You may also be required to provide proof of income, such as a recent bank statement.
You can apply for one of the vouchers by contacting the BCP Citizens Advice branch on 0808 278 7939.
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Alternatively, you can apply on its website or in-person.
It’s worth bearing in mind each household can only apply for one of the vouchers a maximum of two times each year starting from April 1.
Eligible residents are being issued with vouchers on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What about if I don’t live in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
You might be in line for help, even if you don’t live in the area.
Each council has been allotted a unique share of the Household Support Fund and is allocating it differently.
Residents in Reading can claim £450 from the council while households in Harrow, London, can get £200 supermarket vouchers.
Some are offering out grants via direct bank transfers while others are issuing vouchers.
If you are on a low income or certain benefits such as Universal Credit, it’s likely you’ll be eligible for help.
You should contact your local council to find out more.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
What other help is there?
If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might still be able to get help via one of the Government’s cost of living payments.
These payments are being issued to millions of people to help them cover the cost of food, energy and other daily essentials.
There are three payments in total – a £900, £150 and £150-£300.
The £900 payment has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The first instalment should have already been paid in April or May, while the other two are being made in autumn and spring 2024 respectively.
You are eligible for the payments if you claim any of the following benefits:
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Meanwhile, the £150 payment has already been made to millions with disabilities.
Millions of pensioners are in line for a £150-£300 top up on their Winter Fuel payment from November this year also.
Beyond this, a number of energy companies offer struggling customers grants to pay for their bills.
Scottish Power, for example, gives up to £750 to the most hard-up households.
Most hardship funds have no deadline and you can apply all year round.
There is no specific eligibility criteria, but most customers who get help are in arrears on their bill.
Meanwhile, you might be able to claim healthy start vouchers to cover the cost of fresh food and drink for your kids.
The cash top up is issued to families on a low income and can be worth as much as £442 a year.
You can apply by going to www.healthystart.nhs.uk/how-to-apply/.
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