TENS of thousands of households can get up to £325 in free supermarket vouchers to help with the cost of living crisis.
The help comes as part of the newest round of £421million funding provided by the government through the Household Support Fund.
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Councils have been given a slice of the new funding on offer, which will be given out to struggling households to help them with the rising cost of bills and food.
The scheme was first established last year, extended for the second time in the March budget and for a third time in November to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
The vouchers or grants on offer vary by location so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
For example, North Yorkshire County Council is giving people either £85 or £325 in free e-vouchers.
Residents can then use these vouchers for food shopping and other essentials.
Over 23,000 eligible people will have received a letter from the council containing a code for them to redeem their voucher.
Everyone should have received their letter by January 16 but if you think you qualify and haven’t got one, do contact North Yorkshire County Council.
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This code allows them to download a supermarket e-voucher, with the option of a printed version if they want.
You can do this online or if you’re struggling, your local library will be able to help if you pop in and ask.
You’ll get £325 if you received housing benefit on or between 26 August and 25 September, but you did not qualify for the second cost of living payment.
You’ll get an £85 voucher if you were getting the maximum council tax discount as of 30 November.
But residents only have until February 15 to redeem their code into a voucher – so do so by this date or lose it.
Can I get help if I don’t live in North Yorkshire?
Yes – you can still get help under the Household Support Fund.
What support you can get will vary, because each council is in charge of how to spend the funding available.
Some decide to dish the help out automatically, while you’ll need to apply in other cases.
Some councils choose to distribute funding in the form of vouchers, while others give out cash payments.
To get more information on what support is available, and how to get it, you’ll need to contact your local council.
You can find yours using the gov.uk council checker tool.
What can I get?
Councils decide how to distribute their funding.
But in the last round of funding, you could get up to £250 in free cash support from some councils – like Rother in Sussex.
For example, thousands of residents in Luton are due electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other household essentials.
While those living in Kingston can get up to £500 in vouchers.
North Yorkshire council is giving out £325 help for struggling households.
Check your local council to see what its offering.
How can I save on my supermarket shop?
There are plenty of other ways to save on your supermarket shop.
You can try looking out for yellow or red stickers on products which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh you’ll have to eat it fast, or freeze it to have another time.
Sometimes even timing your shop to stock up just as items are discounted on the shelves can help you get the best bargains – lots of shoppers have said this is in the evening typically.
Making a list could save you some money too as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
That means going for “own” or “value” type products instead of “finest” or “luxury” lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes as well where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
Parents can get up to £442 in Healthy Start vouchers that they can use at the supermarket, on food and more for their children, for example.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
