Parents urged to claim free cash and supermarket vouchers worth up to £500 now as applications close in HOURS
PARENTS and households have just hours left to apply for free cash and supermarket vouchers worth up to £500.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF), a giant pool of money worth £421million.
The cash has been shared between councils in England who then distribute their share to residents.
That means what you are entitled to depends on where you live, although in most cases you will qualify for help if you’re on a low income or benefits.
The latest round runs until March 31, after which point it will be extended and run between April 2025 and March 2026.
But while a lot of councils have allocated their share of the latest round of funding, some still haven’t and are offering a range of help.
Some are handing out free cash while others are distributing supermarket or energy vouchers.
A lot have set deadline of before March 31 to apply for help, however, you may find it easier to apply today ahead of the weekend when some council’s phone lines might be closed.
Meanwhile, one council has set a deadline of today for residents to apply for help so you’ll need to act now if you want to get help.
Here are all the councils we could find still distributing support.
Bear in mind, your local council might still be handing out help even if they’re not in our list below.
So, if you’re on benefits like Universal Credit or have low savings or a income, speak to your council to see if any help is at hand.
You can find what council area you fall under by visiting www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Camden Council
Camden Council, in London, is still offering payments worth £500 to households struggling to pay for essentials.
The local authority also issued supermarket and Post Office vouchers worth up to £300 to residents in need over the winter.
Camden Council says it is giving the £500 payments to people in an “emergency financial situation”.
The deadline to apply for the payments is March 31.
To apply, you need to register for the council’s Money Advice Service via www.camden.gov.uk/refer-yourself-for-money-advice-and-support or call 020 7974 4444.
Visit www.camden.gov.uk/hsf for more details.
Southampton City Council
Southampton City Council is giving help to residents in financial hardship.
It doesn’t clarify what its definition of financial hardship is but if you are struggling to cover the cost of food or energy bills it’s probably worth applying.
A spokesperson for the council said help is being issued on a case-by-case basis so what you can get varies.
However, residents may receive a supermarket vouchers worth £50 or more depending on how many people live in their household.
You need to apply for help by the end of today though so will have to be quick.
You can apply through the local Citizens Advice branch via: www.citizensadvicesouthampton.org.uk/cost-of-living/1827-2.
Calderdale Council
Calderdale Council, in West Yorkshire, is urging households to apply for cost of living payments worth up to £100.
The payments are being issued to anyone receiving a council tax reduction based on their income and specific circumstances.
Households with children get £100, households with a disabled person get £100 and single/couple households without children or someone without a disability get £50.
The ultimate deadline to apply is March 31 which can be done via new.calderdale.gov.uk/benefits/hsf.
Telford and Wrekin Council
Telford and Wrekin Council in Shropshire’s Household Support Fund is still open for applications until March 31.
The local authority says it is accepting applications from residents suffering “exceptional financial difficulties”.
Households can apply for small grants which come in the form of supermarket vouchers or an energy voucher or payment.
We have asked the council how much the payments or vouchers are worth and will update this story when we have heard back.
In any case, you can find out more and apply via telford.gov.uk/info/1002/benefits/5351/household_support_fund/2.
Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester Council has sent letters to households eligible for payments worth up to £200.
Care Leavers under the age of 25 and living in Cheshire West and Chester qualify for £100 payments.
Meanwhile, low income pensioners not eligible for Pension Credit qualify for £200 payments.
People caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week can also get £50 payments.
If you fit into any of these three categories you should have received a letter with further instructions on how to apply.
You need to apply by March 31.
South Ribble Borough Council
South Ribble Borough Council is distributing help to households with no more than £2,000 in savings and experiencing financial hardship.
You don’t necessarily have to be on benefits to qualify for support but what you can get depends on your circumstances.
The council says the majority of households who are eligible for help will get a £150 voucher towards energy of household essentials.
Single person households receiving council tax may be eligible for a £50 top up.
You won’t be eligible for help if you have received a payment through the Household Support Fund in the last three months.
To find out more on how to apply visit southribble.gov.uk/cost-living-support-1/household-support-fund-schemes.
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
The current round runs until the end of March 2025, but has been extended.
The next round will run between April 2025 and March 2026.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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