THOUSANDS of households have just days left to apply for a free payment of £200.
The cash support comes through the Household Support Fund which is currently worth £842million.
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The scheme is there to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
The vouchers or 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.
You’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.
For example, those living in Nottinghamshire can apply for a free £200.
The council is offering a summer and winter payment to hard-up households.
Each payment is worth £100 so that’s £200 in total.
Those eligible will usually have to be on certain benefits, on low incomes or have children who qualify for free school meals.
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Applications for the summer payment close on September 30 so you don’t have long to apply.
Any application submitted after then will only get the winter £100 payment.
You can apply online via the form on Nottinghamshire Council’s website.
What if I don’t live in Nottinghamshire?
If you don’t live in Nottinghamshire, ask your local council what it’s offering through the Household Support Fund.
Those living in Dudley could get up to £275 to help towards the cost of living from next month.
In North Yorkshire, thousands of locals received electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.
In other councils – including Buckinghamshire, North Norfolk and Shropshire – details are still being finalised for the period between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
There is other help out there if you are not eligible for the funding.
For example, you could be entitled to a cost of living payment of up to £1,350.
This year and into 2024 the Government is handing out payments to millions of people.
Individually the payments are worth £900, £300 and £150.
Some people may be eligible for all three which means a total of £1,350.
The £900 payment has been split into three instalments worth £301, £300 and £299.
The first was paid in
The first, worth £301, was paid out to over eight million households in April and May.
Households on certain benefits including Universal Credit will receive the second payment directly into their bank accounts between October 31 and November 19.
The third, worth £299, will land in eligible people’s bank accounts in spring 2024, although a specific date has not yet been confirmed.
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