THOUSANDS of households are in line for a £100 income boost within days – we reveal who is eligible.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund which is worth £842million.
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Each local council in England has been allocated a unique share of the fund and is distributing it to residents in need.
That means what you can get varies depending on where you live, although in most cases help is issued to households on a low income or benefits.
In Haringey, London, thousands of households should be in the process of receiving vouchers worth at least £100 to cover the cost of living.
The council is sending out letters containing the vouchers to eligible households – all should be sent by July 31.
The vouchers then need to be cashed at your nearest Post Office.
You can find your closest Post Office by using the branch locator on its website.
Eligible households will be contacted by Haringey Council and just have to sit tight and wait for letters to land on their doormats.
A spokesperson for the authority said those deemed to be under “financial stress” will be entitled to help.
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This means households struggling to pay for rent and council tax, and with low savings and income.
Different amounts of cash vouchers will be distributed depending on each households’ specific needs.
Haringey Council said any additional help you get via the Household Support Fund won’t impact your benefit allowance.
Households receiving the cash vouchers don’t have to repay them either.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Haringey?
Yes you can. But what you’re entitled to varies depending on where you live.
In most cases, if you’re on benefits like Universal Credit or Income Support, you’ll be in line for help.
But you should contact your local council to see what is on offer.
If you don’t know what local authority area you fall under, you can use the Government’s locator tool on its website.
You just have to type in your postcode and it will bring up your local council.
Families in Durham are in line for £150 free cash to help cover food and other essential costs.
Meanwhile, households in Torridge are in line for payments worth up to £1,000.
What other help is on offer?
If you can’t get help via the Household Support Fund you might be able to via other means.
It comes as inflation soars just below the 9% mark and shows no signs of slowing.
You might be able to get help from the Government in the form of a cost of living payment.
There are still two instalments of the £900 payment set to come, in autumn this year and spring 2024.
The payments are being made to anyone on the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
If you’re not on one of the above benefits yet, it’s worth seeing if you could be eligible.
Not only will you start receiving money from the benefit, it could make you eligible for the second and third instalments of the £900 cost of living payment, worth £300 and £299.
Millions of pensioners are set to receive a top up worth up to £300 to their Winter Fuel Payment this winter as well.
The amount of top up you receive will depend on your specific circumstances, like when you were born.
Meanwhile, you might be able to get grants from your energy firm if you’re struggling to make payments.
British Gas, EDF, E.On and Scottish Power all offer them. You should get in touch with your provider to see if you’re eligible for anything.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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