THOUSANDS of families could grab up to £250 FREE cash towards essentials for the remainder of this winter.
The financial support comes as part of the Household Support Fund (HSF), which aims to help those battling with the cost of living crisis and concerning inflation rates.
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Last October, the government launched the scheme to support vulnerable families over the winter months.
The HSF is over halfway through its six-month lifespan, which is due to end March 31 – but there’s still time to get some help if you’re struggling to keep up with bills.
Many households are finding themselves over-stretched as a result of the ongoing energy crisis and cost of living crunch.
It comes as gas prices continue to rise, meaning suppliers are having to raise prices for their customers.
For some households, turning on the heating is a choice they can’t afford to make this winter.
But some families are able to get some extra help at least – although it depends where you live.
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The HSF has an overall pot of £500million to spread across the UK, and it’s been divvied up between local all councils, which decide how the money is spent in each area.
Each council is giving out different amounts in various forms such as supermarket vouchers, fuel vouchers, free school meal vouchers, money towards white goods and more.
For example, Runnymede Council is giving residents upto £800 for costs such as food, fuel and white goods, while Epsom and Ewell Borough Council is awarding a maximum of £120.
The eligibility criteria to access help varies from area to area, and sometimes on a case-by-case basis.
To find your local council, you can use the government’s council checker tool.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has been awarded just under £1million to help cash-strapped residents with bills.
With it, it’s dishing out £250 grants to low income families in the area on prepaid debit cards.
What could I use the cash for?
If your application is successful, there are rules around how you use the money.
The cash can’t be withdrawn from ATMs, for example, but is provided on prepaid debit cards, strictly to be used online or in stores.
It is intended to help with essential living expenses such as the cost of electricity, gas, blankets, clothing and more.
You can also use the prepaid debit cards on pre-payment meters – just keep hold of the receipts as you may be asked for proof of expenditure.
Am I eligible?
To help families who are hit the hardest this winter, the council has some criteria that needs to be met before you apply for the money.
You could get the cash if you live in the local authority and at least one of the following statements is applicable to you:
- You receive Income Support
- You receive Universal Credit
- You receive Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit)
- You receive Income Related Employment Support Allowance
- You receive Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
- You receive Housing Benefit
- Your combined household income from earnings and pensions is less than £350 per week
Alongside this, you’ll need to prove you don’t have any savings or capital of more than £2,000.
If you live in the area and this sounds like you, simply go to the HSF webpage on the Bath & North East Somerset council’s website and hit apply now to fill out an application for the free support.
You don’t need to pay any of the money back as the cash is a free government grant.
If you find you’re not eligible but are still facing hardship as a result of the energy crises, you may be able to get help elsewhere.
One of these ways is via your energy company, as certain suppliers are offering help to their hard-hit customers.
You may also be able to save cash on your council tax bill.
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