Hundreds of households are being encouraged to keep an eye out for letters worth £200 arriving through their doors this week.
This assistance is part of the £421 million Household Support Fund, which has been distributed among councils in England. Each local authority has received a unique portion of the fund and can decide how best to utilise it to support residents in need.
The scheme is aimed at vulnerable people and those who are unable to pay for essentials – and you don’t need to be in receipt of benefits to claim. Check with your local council using this Gov.UK checker to see who you need to contact for support.
For example, Adur and Worthing borough councils, located in Sussex, are sending letters to 200 households informing them that they are eligible for supermarket vouchers worth £200 this week. The actual vouchers will be sent via email within 14 days of the letters being posted.
These are being issued to households where someone falls outside the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit and therefore won’t qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth up to £300. This is paid to those on low incomes to cover the cost of fuel during the colder months.
Adur and Worthing councils have stated that the vouchers can be used in supermarkets to purchase groceries or household items. However, each local authority in England has been given a unique share of the £421 million fund, meaning what you’re eligible for depends on where you live.
Some local councils are providing vouchers to cover energy bills or food costs, while others are directly depositing funds into bank accounts. Eligibility for assistance depends on your location, but typically those on benefits, low income or in vulnerable situations should qualify.
In Cambridgeshire, the county council has committed to offering vouchers or cash payments to help cover the cost of energy bills and/or food. A range of schemes are available for eligible families, which are detailed on the council’s website.
In the latest round of the Household Support Fund, many councils are offering aid to pensioners who missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment due to not qualifying for Pension Credit. It’s important to note that councils have been distributing help through the Household Support Fund since last October and have until the end of March to allocate their share.
This means some councils may have already exhausted their funds. Check with your local council for eligibility.
Households may still be feeling financial strain post-Christmas. But there is plenty of help beyond the Household Support Fund available this winter.
If you’re struggling to afford food and are on benefits, you might qualify for the Healthy Start scheme. Eligible individuals receive a card topped up with free cash to spend on food and other essentials at certain UK shops.
The card can be topped up by as much as £442 a year, depending on your circumstances. More information can be found here.
Grants from your energy firm may also be available if you’ve fallen behind on your bills. British Gas and Octopus Energy both offer schemes that provide non-repayable grants. Other energy companies, including Octopus Energy and EDF, are also offering freebies such as electric blankets and air fryers.
It’s worth checking if you’re eligible for a reduction or even complete waiver of your council tax bill if you’re on a low income or benefits. For instance, single person households can receive a 25% discount, while pensioners on the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit could get up to 100% off.
Check if you qualify for benefits – billions of pounds’ worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice. There are three major free calculators you can use to see what you might be entitled to.