THOUSANDS of households can apply for cost of living vouchers and other financial help worth up to £225.
The aid comes via the Household Support Fund which has been made available to councils in England and is worth £421million.
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The Government-backed fund was due to close in March but has been extended until September.
Each region of England has been allocated a share of the fund which can then be distributed to hard-up households by local councils.
That means what you are entitled to, and whether you qualify, varies depending on where you live.
But, in most cases you will be in line for help if you’re on certain benefits, on a low income or vulnerable.
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Medway Council, in the South-East of England, has already opened applications for struggling residents.
We reveal below what you can get and who qualifies.
What help is on offer?
Medway Council is supporting residents by offering them supermarket vouchers, school uniform vouchers and energy cards.
Households may also be referred on for vouchers to cover energy costs.
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The supermarket voucher values vary depending on your circumstances. This is how much you could get:
- Single person: £65
- Household with two people: £85
- Household with three people: £115
- Household with four people: £155
- Household with five people: £190
- Household with six or more people: £225
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School uniform vouchers are worth £100 for every school age child.
Meanwhile, households who pay for their energy through a prepayment meter will be referred to the Fuel Bank Foundation who will give them a voucher worth £36.
Residents may also receive an electronic energy card worth £100 or an e-voucher worth £100 to pay for water bills.
The supermarket vouchers will be emailed to people which can then be used to claim digital gift codes.
These can be printed or scanned from a mobile phone in most major supermarkets.
We have asked Medway Council which supermarkets they can be used in and will update this story when we have heard back.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
THE Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Chancellor Jeremey Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
We have also asked how the school uniform vouchers will be issued and how they can be redeemed.
The energy and water e-cards are sent digitally via email and can be redeemed like a debit card.
Who is eligible and how do I apply?
You must be a Medway resident, aged 16 or over and have less than £500 in your bank account.
You can apply if you are not on benefits.
You’ll need the following information to hand before applying:
- your details, including name, address and date of birth
- your contact details
- your National Insurance number
- your household details, including who you live with
- your latest months bank statements for all accounts held in the household. These must show: names, all transactions and that you have less than £500 in your bank account
Medway Council has said the amount is has received from the Government is fixed, so anyone who thinks they could be eligible should apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
What about if I don’t live in Medway?
You might be able to get help via the Household Support Fund where you live.
But not all councils have opened applications for the latest round so you may have to wait.
Check out your local council’s website to see if you can apply yet.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool.
You just have to type in your postcode and it will tell you which authority area you live in.
If you can’t get help through the Household Support Fund, there are plenty of other ways to get help with the cost of living.
You might be able to get help lowering your energy bills through the ECO4 scheme.
It is designed to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions in the UK.
It puts a legal obligation on energy firms to implement energy-saving measures in your home if you are on certain benefits or it is not energy-efficient enough.
Help is offered on a case-by-case basis, but it can mean having a new boiler fitted, or loft or cavity wall insulation put in, often for free.
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You might also be able to get help insulating your home through the Government’s Great British Insulation Scheme.
But you’ll have to prove you are in a council tax band A-E and must have an energy performance certificate rating of D or lower.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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