Cash payments to help struggling households with the cost of living will be issued in the first days of 2025. Cost of living money will be paid into bank accounts by local councils.
People have to apply to their councils for money and are only likely to be successful if they can show they are on low incomes and struggling to pay bills. Individual authorities choose how much to pay out, with £200 payments available from Birmingham City Council through the Household Support Fund.
People should check details on their local council’s website to find out more. The fund has been extended throughout 2025 by the Government, meaning payments will continue to be available all year for hard-up residents.
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However, individual applicants are only likely to be successful once to ensure as many households can be supported as possible. People don’t have to be receiving benefits to apply, though successful applicants will usually be on low incomes. Applications should be made directly to local councils.
Birmingham City Council said: “Households facing financial hardship can apply for grants through the Hardship Grant Community Fund. These grants are given out by us, with help from the Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) and local partner organisations.
“Hardship payments are intended to help households with everyday household essentials such as energy and food, with grant payments of up to £200 per household. Receiving a grant from this fund will not impact any other benefits you may be receiving or may be entitled to. Grant payments are made directly into a bank account in the applicant’s name.”
The council added eligible people must be experiencing “financial hardship, particularly with covering costs linked to food and energy and have not have received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months.