THOUSANDS of struggling households can claim up to £500 free cash to help with essential bills.
The support is provided through the Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme, which has been extended until September 2024.
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Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
Households could get supermarket vouchers or cash grants worth up to £500.
But the exact amount you can get will depend on where you live, so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
Some councils will make payouts automatically and others will require you to fill in an application form.
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You’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.
We’ve listed what’s on offer from ten different councils right now.
Plus, we’ve explained if you need to apply for the support.
Cornwall Council
Cornwall Council has secured a further £4.5 million pounds from the DWP.
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Some of the funding will be used to provide one-off cash payments to low-income households.
These payments will be made automatically by the end of June 2024.
You do not need to apply.
Here’s what you can get:
- £80 payment to pensioners in receipt of pension credit
- £80 payment to adults assessed receiving care
- £80 payment per child for families receiving council tax support on June 3, 2024
- £80 payment per child for families living in emergency accommodation on June 3, 2024
Find out more by visiting www.cornwall.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/household-support-fund.
How to find the best bargains at the supermarket
Coventry City Council
Households who find themselves in financial difficulty can apply for a range of support:
- £120 to single people or childless couples to help with energy and water bills
- £140 to families to help with energy and water bills
- £25 worth of food parcels
- Household appliances and furniture
- £95 per adult and £60 per child in clothes vouchers
- £20 to single person or childless couple in toiletries vouches
- £30 to families in toiletries vouches
All applications for support need to be made online by visiting www.coventry.gov.uk/householdsupportfund.
Ealing Council
Ealing has been allocated £2.6M to support low-income families between now and the end of September 2024.
All of the following supermarket vouchers will be provided by the council’s partner, Blackhawk.
- £105 to families claiming benefits related free school meals in supermarket vouchers
- £105 to families with children under the age of five who get Housing Benefit or council tax reduction
- £105 to care leavers in supermarket vouchers
If you are eligible, you do not need to apply for the vouchers.
Eligible families will receive either an email or letter from Blackhawk with a 16-digit, personalised code and instructions to redeem the vouchers by visiting ealingcouncil.select-your-reward.co.uk.
Hartlepool Borough Council
The majority of Hartlepool’s HSF funding is targeted at children and pensioners in low-income households.
The funding is allocated to these two groups in the form of shopping vouchers for food or in some cases as a bank payment.
Eligible households could get:
- £60 shopping vouchers per child in receipt of free school meals
- £60 shopping vouchers to low-income pensioners
There is no need to apply and low-income children and pensioners will receive their shopping vouchers or payments
Find out more by visiting www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20127/benefits_and_grants/1086/household_support_fund.
Herefordshire Council
Households in Herefordshire can get up to £500 depending on their circumstances and level of need.
The Council said it is available for “the most vulnerable households”.
Eligible households could get access to the following:
- £500 cash grants through the Herefordshire Community Foundation Fuel Poverty Fund
- £250 cash grants for individuals that use ‘high energy’ use medical equipment
Parents may also be able to get a one-off emergency payment voucher of £75.
All applicants must make an application by phone on 01432 383838, or by completing an online application form on the council’s website.
Find out more about the Fuel Poverty Fund by visiting www.herefordshirecf.org/funds/household-support-fund.
Application for the £250 grant can be submitted at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/family-support/support-emergency-welfare-support/3
What energy bill help is available?
THERE’S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Medway Council
Medway Council is supporting residents by offering them supermarket vouchers, school uniform vouchers and energy cards.
Households may also be referred on for vouchers to cover energy costs.
The supermarket voucher values vary depending on your circumstances. This is how much you could get:
- £65 for single-person households
- £85 for households with two people
- £115 for households with three people
- £155 for households with four people
- £190 for households with five people
- £225 for households with six or more people
School uniform vouchers are worth £100 for every school age child.
Meanwhile, households who pay for their energy through a prepayment meter will be referred to the Fuel Bank Foundation who will give them a voucher worth £36.
Residents may also receive an electronic energy card worth £100 or an e-voucher worth £100 to pay for water bills.
The supermarket vouchers will be emailed to people which can then be used to claim digital gift codes.
You can find out more by visiting www.medway.gov.uk/info/200131/council_tax_and_benefits/1481/household_support_fund
Nottinghamshire Council
Thousands of £100 one-off payments are expected to receive them later this summer.
Residents in the area may also qualify for additional support if they meet extra requirements.
Approximately £1.55million will be distributed to households with children in receipt of free school meals, or with children five or under with an equivalent eligibility.
Another £1.55million will be shared amongst 15,500 households where one or more person receives or is eligible for Pension Credit.
Around £250,000 will be used as discretionary housing payments to help those at risk of being homeless.
The council has said £75,000 of the funds will be invested into Citizens Advice to help it continue its essential advice and support service for residents across the county.
Another £1.55million is to be shared among any other households impacted by rising costs, particularly those who may not be eligible for other government support, plus an additional £300,000 is being set aside to help buy white goods live ovens or fridges.
Applications for this share of the funds will be determined by front-line workers such as housing officers or social workers.
Families in receipt of free school meals or Pension Credit will be contacted directly by the county council with details of how to apply for a seasonal payment.
Front-line workers will help identify other households most in need via a referral process.
You can find out more by visiting www.nottscc.gov.uk/householdsupportfund.
Wakefield Council
Wakefield Council will use its HSF funding in the following ways:
- £75 supermarket voucher for low income pensioners in receipt of council tax support
- £75 supermarket voucher for disabled residents in receipt of council tax support
- £75 supermarket voucher for low income families in receipt of council tax support
- £75 supermarket voucher for low income pensioners in receipt of council tax support
Eligible households do not need to apply for these vouchers. They will be issued automatically.
Find out more by visiting www.wakefield.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/household-support-fund.
Warrington Borough Council
The following cash grants are on offer through Warrington’s HSF scheme:
- £90 payment for parents whose children are in receipt of free school meals and are claiming a qualifying benefit
- £90 payment for households claiming council tax support or housing benefit
- £90 payment for pensioners in receipt of pension credit, council tax support or housing benefit
Households can choose to receive their payments directly into their bank account (by BACS transfer), or you can choose to receive their payments electronically or through paper vouchers.
You can apply by visiting www.warrington.gov.uk/hsf.
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council
Cash-strapped residents in Windsor and Maidenhead can get money to go towards food and energy costs.
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.
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
You’ll be sent a unique reference number and a link to an online application form if you are eligible.
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.
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You have until September 30 to apply or until the cash runs dry.
Find out more by visiting www.rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/household-support-fund.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
THE Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Chancellor Jeremey Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
