THOUSANDS of households can get £145 in FREE cash now as the multi-million pound hardship fund reopens – are you one of them?
Hard-up Brits have just days left to apply to the fund or they’ll miss out.
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With the cost of living taking a toll on one everyone, many have been forced to tighten the belt.
Those living off low-income wages or certain benefits can get free financial help from the local council.
Struggling families can claim the money via the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF).
The cash is dished out from a pot of £842million in help by the Department of Work and Pensions.
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Councils now have until the end of September to distribute their share between low-income households.
Each one is allocated a portion of the money to distribute to cash-strapped families who make less than £50,000.
Cash-strapped residents in Windsor and Maidenhead can get money to go towards food and energy costs.
The council announced it has bagged an extra £587,905 from the DWP’s Household Support Fund.
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If you’re grappling with food spending, rent or to keep the lights on, you can get £145 in cash.
The council has teamed up with charity partners to decide who is in need of the help.
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To apply locals will have to get in touch with one of the community partners:
- Abri
- Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB)
- Housing Solutions
- RBWM Housing Service
- Age Concern Windsor
- West Windsor Hub (WWH)
- Baby Bank
- Maidenhead Foodshare
- Windsor Foodshare
- NHS Frimley social prescribing service
- Maidenhead United FC Community Trust
- Optalis
- Achieving for Children
If you are eligible, you’ll be sent a unique reference number and a link to an online application form.
The payment will be made via bank transfer and should be sent within five working days once your application has been accepted.
But users are urged to be quick as it is on a first-come and first-served basis.
You have until September 30 to apply or until the cash runs dry.
People who received a payment on the previous round in March can still reapply contacting the community partner which put them forward before.
Other councils can get energy vouchers or a direct cash bank transfer, depending on where in England you’re based.
For example, some households in Herefordshire can get direct cash payments worth £250 in the latest round.
In previous rounds, households in Kent were offered virtual prepaid cards worth £100 to pay for energy bills.
How to apply and how much you’ll get
WHO qualifies for the Household Support Fund varies depending on where you live as each council gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.
However, in most cases, you’ll qualify if you are on benefits like Universal Credit or a low income.
How to apply varies depending on where you live too, so you should get in touch with your council to find out.
You can find out what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
What you’ll actually get, whether that be energy vouchers or a direct cash bank transfer, depends on where in England you’re based.
For example, some households in Herefordshire can get direct cash payments worth £250 in the latest round.
In previous rounds, households in Kent were offered virtual prepaid cards worth £100 to pay for energy bills.
Portsmouth City Council and Dorset Council were both offering out supermarket vouchers worth £150 too.
It’s worth noting some councils might not have opened applications for the current round yet so you may have to wait.
And even when you can make a claim, each council’s pot is limited and can be used up at any stage, so you should apply as soon as practical.
What other help is there?
If you don’t qualify for the Household Support Fund, there is other help on offer.
Plenty of energy firms offer grants to customers if they’re struggling to keep up with bills.
Scottish Power hands grants worth up to £750 to customers in need and you’ll qualify if you’re on certain benefits including Income Support, Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance.
E.ON and Octopus Energy both hand out cash grants to struggling customers, although what you can get depends on your personal circumstances.
It’s worth checking if you qualify for any Government schemes aimed at helping you reduce your energy bills too.
For example, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is designed to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions in the UK.
It’s available to households on certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit.
You also need to be living in a home with an energy-efficiency rating of D-G.
You might also qualify for the Great British Insulation scheme which launched in September last year.
The scheme is open to households in council tax bands A-E across England, Wales and Scotland.
You also must have an energy performance certificate rating of D or lower.
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If you qualify, you could be in line for essential upgrades to your home including roof, loft or cavity wall insulation for free or at a discounted rate.
The measures can then go on to save you hundreds of pounds on your annual energy bills.
