HOUSEHOLDS have just two days left to claim supermarket vouchers and cost of living payments worth up to £225.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, a £421million pot of cash that’s been shared between councils in England.
Local authorities then have to decide how to distribute their share of the fund, and who to.
The latest round of funding has to be allocated by councils before March 31, with some already having depleted their shares.
However, some are still issuing cash and vouchers, with a number setting deadlines of this Friday to apply.
City of Doncaster Council
City of Doncaster Council is providing one-off payments to households who receive either housing benefit, local council tax reduction, Universal Credit which includes a housing element or means-tested free school meals.
Payments are being made to households where at least one person is aged between 16 and 64 – also known as a working-age adult.
Households without children are being issued £75 payments and those with one or two dependent children £150.
Residents living in homes with three or more dependent children qualify for £225 payments.
Meanwhile, pensioner households receiving Pension Credit get £50 payments and those not eligible for the benefit get £150.
Anyone who received a payment under a previous round of the Household Support Fund should have already received their money.
But, those who are yet to get help through the Household Support Fund, which first launched in October 2021, have to apply by 5pm on Friday.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Save money on your energy bills with these cold weather tips” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6343605830112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The online application form can be found via www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/council-tax-benefits/household-support-fund.
Households who qualify can either get the money paid as a cheque or directly into their bank account.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D107948%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is distributing payments worth £200 to households in need.
To qualify for a payment, residents need to have not yet received help from the Household Support Fund in 2024 or 2025.
They also must be receiving housing benefit, the housing element of Universal Credit, or council tax support.
They can also qualify if they have been receiving a means-tested benefit or have not been in employment for at least three months.
They also need to have less than £1,000 in savings.
To apply for the payment, residents can go to www.eryc.link/fund.
Those who don’t have access to the internet can apply by calling 01482 393939.
Any payments should be made within 20 days of an application being made.
Bedford Council
Bedford Council, in the East of England, is still accepting applications for direct bank payments of £150.
Payments are being issued to pensioner households who receive council tax support.
Households where the council tax payer is of working age, dependent children are included in the household, and are in receipt of a council tax support can also claim.
The deadline for either cohort to apply is February 28.
To apply, visit bedford.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/grants-and-funding/household-support-fund-2024-25.
Portsmouth Council
If you have children aged 0-19 that do not qualify for benefits-related free school meals, or someone in your household is over 20 weeks pregnant and you have a low income, you may be eligible to apply for Portsmouth Council’s Family Voucher Scheme.
The scheme is also open to:
- Children attending school outside of Portsmouth
- Home educated children
- Children in early years settings
- Children in full time further education
- Eligible families will receive one £50 supermarket voucher per child.
Households must submit their applications online by 12pm on February 28, by visiting portsmouth.gov.uk/services/benefits-and-support/help-and-support/money-advice/household-support-fund/.
Calderdale Council
Hard-up households in Calderdale have until Friday to apply for support up to £100.
You may be eligible if you receive council tax reduction based on your income.
How much you get depends on certain factors such as if you live with children or have a disability.
Households with children will get £100 and so will households where one person is living with a known disability.
Meanwhile, single parents and couples with no children or disability will receive £50.
For households with children and a known disability, only one payment of £100 can be awarded.
To find out more, visit new.calderdale.gov.uk/benefits/hsf.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Households receiving a council tax reduction in Stockton-on-Tees should have received an £80 voucher.
Pensioner households who don’t qualify for Pension Credit and on a low income have also been sent £100 vouchers.
These vouchers can be exchanged at any PayPoint outlet for money to cover energy bills or food costs.
However, the vouchers have to be exchanged no later than February 28.