THOUSANDS of hard-up families can get £195 in free cash to help with their grocery bill.
The help comes as part of the latest round of Household Support Fund which is worth £842million.
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Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
Grants on offer vary by location so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
It was due to end in March this year but was extended until April 2024 meaning households can get more support.
You’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.
Eligible households can get £195 free if they live in Bracknell Forest.
This is being dished out in the form of a one-off supermarket voucher per child.
To apply you must be in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits and your child meets one of the following criteria:
- child is under 5 years old in an early years setting
- child is 16 to 18 years old in full time education
- young person is aged 16 to 25 years old in full time education with an Education, Health and Care plan
- child is home educated
- child attends an out of borough school where they are not eligible for equivalent support from their education authority
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The council says a maximum of one £195 voucher per child will be awarded during the period April, 1 2023 to 31 March 31, 2024.
You can apply for the voucher online on the council website.
We have asked the council which benefits qualify and where the vouchers can be spent – we will update this story when we hear back.
Residents in financial hardship who would not otherwise qualify for support can apply for further support which is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Meanwhile, more help is available for children who receive free school meals.
Throughout the year these eligible kids will get a supermarket voucher for each of the school holidays.
The amount awarded will range from £15 to £30 – here is what kids will get and when:
- £15 in May 2023
- £90 in July 2023
- £15 in October 2023
- £30 in December 2023
- £15 in February 2024
- £30 in March 2024
You don’t need to apply for these vouchers as they’ll be distributed through schools.
Struggling low-income households will automatically receive a free £300 payment if they meet the criteria.
The cash will be distributed automatically via pre-paid MasterCard in November this year.
You are eligible for a pre-paid card if you receive one or both of the following on October 31:
You won’t be eligible if you are in receipt of benefits that would entitle you to the government’s cost of living payment.
If you are pension age in this category, you will receive a £150 voucher per household, in addition to the existing national pension age payment.
It’s best to keep an eye on the council’s website for any updates on the scheme and get in touch if you’re unsure what is available to you.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Bracknell Forest?
Yes, but the help available to you will depend on where you live.
Each council is distributing their share of the HSF differently.
Some are handing out vouchers, while others are making bank transfers to eligible residents.
The amount you are entitled to will vary depending on the area you live in too.
For example, those living in Wokingham can get up to £100 in support.
While, people living in Torridge can get up to £1,000 in free cash.
But some local authorities haven’t yet opened their funding.
If you’re not sure which council is in charge of your area, you can tap your postcode into the government’s local council checker tool to find out.
The most common types of support provided each year are supermarket vouchers, fuel vouchers and one-off payments.
Bear in mind that many councils haven’t opened the application process for the next round of funding yet, so keep an eye out.
What other help is out there?
Council tax discount
Many people don’t realise they can get a cheaper council tax bill.
There are a number of discounts you could get, depending on your circumstances.
To apply for any of the below discounts, go through the government website.
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
Grants and hardship funds
You can get a grant from your energy supplier if you’re really struggling and need help paying off debts.
Scottish Power, for example, gives up to £750 per household to the most hard-up households.
Most hardship funds have no deadline and you can apply all year round.
There is no specific eligibility criteria, but most customers who get help are in arrears on their bill.
Cost of living payments
Millions of people will receive the first part of a £900 cost of living payment this week.
The first payment, which will be £301, will be paid directly into bank accounts between April 25 and May 17.
If you were receiving any of the above benefits between January 26 and February 25 this year you will receive the £301 payment.
If you were later found to be entitled to any of the above benefits between January 26 and February 25 you will be eligible for the payment too.
But those getting tax credits will get the cash at a later date to avoid duplicate payments.
This payment will be tax-free and will not have any effect on any existing benefit payments that you receive.
Further cost of living payments are also coming, but the exact dates have not yet been revealed.
- £150 – 2023 Disability Payment – during Summer 2023
- £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
- £300 – 2023 Pensioner Payment – during Winter
- £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024
Healthy Start Vouchers
Healthy start vouchers can help you cover the cost of fresh food and drink for your kids.
If you’re on a low income, the scheme could be worth as much as £442 a year.
Each healthy start voucher is currently worth £4.25 a week, and over a year that adds up to £221.
It’s worth double that if you have a child under the age of one as you’ll be eligible for two vouchers each week, which makes up the £442 maximum.
There used to be paper vouchers, but that has been replaced by a prepaid card, so you’ll get the amounts added to that instead automatically every four weeks.
Meanwhile, those struggling can apply for a range of schemes that provide free cash, vouchers and more and you could get thousands of pounds – see our full list.
Plus, here is the full list of benefits that don’t qualify for the cost of living payments.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
