THOUSANDS of households have just days to claim free financial support towards essentials like supermarket and energy bills.
The help is part of the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is currently set to close on September 30.
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The scheme was launched last October to help struggling families cope with the cost of living crisis over the winter period.
But the scheme was extended in March this year and a new deadline of September 30 was set.
In total, councils up and down the country were given a slice of £1.5billion worth of funding.
Each council has chosen the type of support they are to provide, with many opting for supermarket vouchers and one off payments.
Not all residents can receive the support due to eligibility requirements which can be viewed on each local council’s website.
Though some councils may have closed application windows already.
Manchester City Council dished out all its one off payments to eligible residents, who pay their Council Tax by direct debit, in July.
But the authority is now warning residents who received a Post Office vouchers instead have until September 10 to cash them in.
Leicester City Council, Nottingham City Council, Lewes District Council and York City Council have already closed their application window.
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You can check whether local support is still available by contacting your council.
How much help could you get through the Household Support Fund?
What you get through the HSF depends on where you live.
This is because each council is awarded a different amount of money, and can decide who they offer it to, and how much.
For example, Herefordshire council was given over £1million and dished out one-off £60 payments to some of its residents.
Ealing Council dished out £25 supermarket vouchers to some families in its area.
In Bromsgrove and Redditch residents were able to apply for the HSF through Citizens Advice.
The maximum people could get there was £500 per household.
Not all councils have announced how they will be handing out their portion of the HSF.
The best bet is to contact your local council to find out more.
You can use the government’s council locator tool if you don’t know what area you fall under.
How to apply for the Household Support Fund
In some cases, households eligible for the HSF could receive their payment automatically – if they’re on means-tested benefits for example.
But in other cases, you can apply directly for the payment.
It will depend on your circumstances, and also the council area you fall under.
Lewisham Council is sending payments to families with children receiving free school meals, and pensioner households.
Parents with children on free school meals will receive their payment directly from their child’s school or children’s schools.
But pensioner households will be written to with details of payments to be issued at their nearest Post Office.
Again, it’s worth checking on your council’s website for more details, or you can contact them on the phone.
What other help is there?
On top of the Household Support Fund there’s also a range of other support on offer for people.
Free school meals is one option.
They are handed out to all kids in government-funded schools and in reception, year one and year two.
Beyond that, your child might receive free school meals if you receive certain benefits, including Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit and more.
To apply for free school meals, you’ll have to go through your local council.
Energy suppliers themselves can also offer support for those who are struggling to pay their bills.
Those on Universal Credit and older legacy benefits could get over £3,000 in bill support.
There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling.
British Gas has recently confirmed that it’ll pay its most vulnerable customers grants worth £750 to help with sky-high bills.
There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment metre.
If you’re in debt there are plenty of services you can take advantage of and they offer free and friendly advice on how to manage debt.
Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.
They can also help you take the next steps if you need a debt management plan (DMP) to tackle your debt or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). These are agreements for managing multiple.
From October the first, all UK households are set to receive the £400 energy bills rebate.
The payment will be made up of six discounts between October and March next year.
Households will receive a £66 energy bill discount in October and November and a discount worth £67 in December, January, February and March.
We’ve listed how the leading energy suppliers plan to pay households the discount and are waiting on others to respond.
In November, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” will be paid out to eight million households.
It will be given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
Payments for the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme will likely begin from December.
