THOUSANDS of hard-up families could get their hands on FREE cash to spend on food at the supermarket.
It couldn’t be more needed either, as the cost of the weekly shop rockets amid a cost of living crisis.
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Rising inflation means the price of everything on the supermarket shelf is going up.
It’s left plenty of households worrying where they’ll find the funds to cough up for the next bill through the door, or to get food on the table.
But thankfully, councils have stepped in to offer their local residents cash support.
One of those is Middlesbrough Council – the body is offering up £60 supermarket vouchers to those who need it most.
The vouchers started going out on Monday, to parents of children who already get free school meals.
They get the one-off payment of £60 (to spend at any supermarkets of their choosing) per child, so some families with a few more mouths to feed could get more.
The payments are designed to provide support to families who may be struggling financially, but they’re not a direct replacement for free school meals during the holidays the majority of kids are already on.
They’re also thanks to the Household Support Fund.
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The town of Middlesbrough is dishing out a £1.6 million slice of the government’s cost of living support scheme to help those crippled by the ever rising costs.
The government had actually pilled extra money into the fund this year, to help ease the pressure for some bill-payers, whose wallets are already stretched.
Another £500 million was added to the pot so more families and low income households could benefit.
Then just last month, The Chancellor announced the current scheme would continue beyond September this year, as he extended the Household Support Fund AGAIN.
At the same time he also announced:
But Middlesbrough isn’t the only council to lend a hand to struggling constituents – plenty have started to part with the cash they have been given in this round of the Household Support Fund.
For example, eligible residents Norfolk can get £120 in food vouchers to cover meals for kids, with the council’s latest hand-out.
Meanwhile, Reading Council is giving pensioners energy vouchers worth £98, and families a sum of £49 to help cover similar costs.
Plus there’s a chance to claim up to £180 in support for those living in Cornwall, and parents in Brighton and Hove could get £105 to cover essentials over the school breaks coming up this year.
We’ve seen each council offer up something different, and eligibility rules can vary too.
It’s best to check in with your own local authority to find out what may be up for grabs as well as how you can apply.
If you’re still strapped for cash to spend on feeding hungry mouths you can apply for up to £442 help with Healthy Start Vouchers too.
And we reveal five ways to get emergency cash worth hundreds of pounds as you start to see all your bills stack up.
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