THOUSANDS of families are due £325 to spend in supermarkets as letters go out now.
The free cash help comes through the Household Support Fund.
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The £421million fund has been extended until March 2023 to help the country’s most vulnerable households.
But the help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
You should be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or covering the costs of your weekly grocery shop.
For example, thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are due electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.
And eligible households can get up to £325 in free supermarket vouchers depending on their circumstances.
To get the help, you’ll need to check with your local council – as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
There should be information on how to apply for the funding on your council’s website.
But bear in mind that you’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.
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What are councils offering and who is eligible?
Local authorities have had some autonomy on how they use the Fund to reach the vulnerable people in their communities.
Eligibility requirements will vary depending on where you live – so check directly with your council if you could get the cash help.
For example, residents eligible for the scheme who live in North Yorkshire York could get between £85 and £325.
Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for the cash help if you or a family member was in receipt of:
- Housing benefit
- Council tax reduction
Those receiving housing benefit on or between August 26 2022, and September 25 2022, that did not qualify for the second cost of living payment for people on low-income benefits or tax credits, will receive a single electronic voucher worth £325.
The second cost of living payment was paid in November to people getting Universal Credit, income support, pension credit, income-based jobseekers allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, child tax credit and working tax credit.
Those getting the maximum discount to pay their council tax bill through the means-tested council tax reduction scheme as of November 30 2022, will receive a single electronic voucher worth £85.
If you meet both of the above criteria for both housing benefit and maximum council tax reduction you’ll be in line to receive a voucher worth £325.
How do I apply for the Household Support Fund?
Some households will be notified that they can apply for the cash help and others will receive the cash automatically.
Again, your council will set out whether or not you need to apply for the free cash.
Those living in North Yorkshire do not need to apply for the cash help.
Anyone eligible will be sent a letter by January, 16 – so keep an eye out for the post.
The letter will contain all the information needed about how to claim and use the electronic vouchers.
You will need to redeem the voucher by February 15 when the scheme closes.
If you’ve received your letter you can enter the personalised code and select your vouchers on the North Yorkshire County Council website.
Residents of can spend the value of these vouchers at the following supermarkets:
- Aldi
- Asda
- Farm Foods
- Iceland
- Marks and Spencer
- Morrisons
- Sainsbury’s
- Tesco
- Waitrose
Only Asda, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose offer both in-store and online shopping.
You can choose to split your e-voucher across one or all nine of the supermarkets involved in the scheme, however, once you’ve made your selection you won’t be able to make any changes.
Vouchers cannot be used to pay for fuel, scratch cards/lottery tickets, tobacco products or pre-paid gift cards.
Is there other support available?
As part of the Autumn Statement yesterday, it was revealed millions on benefits and Universal Credit will receive an extra one-off £900.
Eight million households currently get cost-of-living payments worth up to £650, but eligibility criteria could change under any new rules.
Right now, eligibility is the list of benefits mentioned above.
Pensioners have also started getting a £300 one-off payment.
The current pensioner cost of living payment is being handed out to millions on a low income.
You qualify under the current rules if you normally get the winter fuel payment, but this could change under the new rules.
The £300 cost of living payment is paid on top of the other winter support.
You’ll need to be:
- born on or before 25 September 1956
- have lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 in what is known as the “qualifying week”
Struggling families are eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living.
The scheme is where eligible households can get £150 off their electricity bill each winter – but you’ll have to wait until the colder months to get the money off.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.
You can read more about who’s eligible here.
There are also plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling:
- British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
- British Gas Energy Trust
- EDF Customer Support Fund
- E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
- Octopus Energy Assist Fund
- OVO Energy
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment meter.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
