THOUSANDS of households are set to receive a free up to £230 cash payment into their bank accounts within just days.
The money boost comes via the latest round of Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million.
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The fund was first launched in October 2021 but has been extended multiple times since, including most recently until the end of March 31, 2024.
However, many councils are still sharing their most recent batch of funding, which has to be paid by the end of this month.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is paying out up to £230 into thousands of people’s bank accounts on March 25.
If you are a household receiving Council Tax Support you’ll be entitled to a payment.
But you will also be in line for a payment if you are on a low income and in a credit deficit.
A credit deficit is when your essential financial outgoings, so bills and other living expenses, are more than your income.
The amounts Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are paying vary depending on your circumstances.
Any households without children receiving Council Tax Support will get a set payment of £83.
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Those with one or more dependent children will get £133.
If you are entitled to discretionary assistance you will get between £50 and £233 depending on your circumstances.
The deadline to apply has now passed, but those who did so after December 12 will be paid on March 25.
You should contact Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council if you are keen to know what your payments will be.
People who get Council Tax Support and had help from the HSF previously did not have to reapply for the latest batch of funding.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Redcar and Cleveland?
Yes, you can still get help under the latest batch of Household Support Fund if you live outside Redcar and Cleveland borough.
But what you can get depends on where you live, as not all councils have been given the same share of the fund.
In most cases, help is offered to households on benefits or a low income.
Not all local authorities are handing out the help in the same way either.
Some are dishing out direct bank transfers while others are issuing vouchers that can be redeemed in supermarkets or with energy providers.
You should check with your local council to see what help you might be in line for.
If you don’t know what council area you fall under, you can use the government’s council locator tool online.
Just type “find my local council” into Google and it should be the first link that appears on the page.
What other support is ending in March?
Despite the Household Support Fund being extended, the latest batch of funding has to be allocated by councils by March 31.
A number of other government schemes designed to help households with everyday costs are ending this month too.
The Cold Weather Payment scheme is closing on March 31.
Under the scheme, you receive the £25 for every seven-day period where temperatures are constantly below zero.
You qualify for the payment if you’re receiving certain benefits, including:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
That means there’s just over a week until the scheme closes and it’s unlikely temperatures will drop below zero over seven consecutive days until then.
The Winter Fuel Payment is also closing on March 31.
You qualify for the payment if you were born on or before September 25, 1956, and you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 19 to 25, 2022.
You usually have to live in the UK to get the payment, although you can get it in some circumstances if you live abroad.
Those in a care home can also get the payment.
For the full eligibility criteria you should check out the government’s Winter Fuel Payment page.
Meanwhile, the Warm Home Discount is ending this month.
It’s a £150 one off payment towards your energy bills made to eligible households between October and March each year.
There are different ways to qualify for the scheme, but if you live in England and Wales you have to either:
- be receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- be on a low income and have high energy costs
The government’s £400 energy rebate is finishing this month too – so those receiving £66-67 monthly discounts will see their bills rise.
