THOUSANDS of struggling families can apply for a one-off payment of £145 to help with the rising cost of living.
The payment will be dished out of the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is a pot worth £842million.
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The money has come from the Government which has shared it between councils in England.
The objective of the fund is to provide support to households that are struggling with the cost of living.
The scheme was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid a cost of living crisis.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s Council has decided to allocate its funding through two separate schemes for 2023-2024.
They will provide families who are in receipt of Free School Meals vouchers to assist with food costs over the school holidays.
And the second scheme will work with a range of local and community sector organisations to identify households in order to support them with a £145 cash payment.
Bear in mind that depending on where you live will depend on the amount you get and also what is offered.
These schemes are specific to The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM)
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Some councils are offering out vouchers while others are making direct cash bank transfers.
If you are not sure who your local council is you can type your postcode into the the government’s council locator tool on its website and it will tell you.
Who is eligible?
In order to be eligible for the voucher support for food costs during the summer holidays pupils need to be registered for free school meals and attending a RBWM school.
The funding level is £20 per pupil per funded week – every week over the October half term, Christmas and February 2024 half term will be funded.
Over the summer holiday period, 50% of the weeks will be funded.
Eligible families do not need to apply for this support, the vouchers will be issued electronically and coordinated by RBWM schools.
To be eligible for the £145 cash payment, residents must be in severe financial need, be over 18, and a resident of the borough.
Households can put themselves forward by contacting Citizens Advice East Berkshire, residents cannot apply through the council.
Other households will be identified by the council with the assistance of partners such as housing organisations, health partners and adult and children’s services.
The fund is discretionary and residents identified by the council will be given a unique reference number and a link to an application for to enable them to apply.
The current scheme is open until Sunday March 31, 2024.
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.
Residents in North Norfolk District Council are also set to see a fourth round of the HSF from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 but details are still being finalised.
Those needing help in Shropshire have also been granted a fourth round of HSF funds from April 1, 2023 and details are yet to be confirmed.
