Warning for millions of hard-up households to claim free cash grants NOW or miss out on energy and food bill help

HARD-UP families are being given cash grants worth up to £600 to help with the rising cost of living.

Councils have been been given millions in extra cash as part of the government's Household Support Fund.,

The fund is there to help households that are struggling with their energy bills and other every day essentials.

The scheme was first established last year and extended again in the March budget to help those on the lowest income with the rising cost of living.

The voucher or grants on offer vary by location and you'll have to check to see how your council will pay you.

It's up to your local authority to set its own eligibility criteria for the free cash.

They will then decide how to distribute the funding to households.

Some councils hand out supermarket vouchers while others give out cash grants direct to people's bank accounts.

For example, the is paying struggling households up to £600 to help with essential bills.

To be eligible for the grant you must be over 18 and live in the borough of Richmond and be struggling from the impact of rising costs of food and energy or continue to be impacted by Covid, for example:

• Reduced pay or lost job
• Benefits issues
• Struggling to afford food, energy costs and other essentials, including white goods
• Extra costs as a result of Covid

You can also complete apply for the grant with the Citizens Advice  or by calling Citizens Advice Richmond by freephone 0808 2787 873.

Guildford Borough Council is paying struggling households up to £300.

Applicants must:

• be over the age of 16
• live in Guildford
• be without resources to meet their immediate short-term needs
• be without resources to support their dependants

Households in Guildford will need to complete and return an to community.wellbeing@guildford.gov.uk.

Birmingham City Council will pay vulnerable households up to £200 which can be put towards essential food and energy (gas, electricity, and water) bills.

To be eligible for the cash, you'll need to be of state pension age - born on or before September 30 1956.

You'll also need to be in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:

• Council Tax Support
• Pension Credit
• Social Funds (Cold Weather Payment, Funeral Payment, Sure Start Maternity Grant)

In most circumstances, successful grant awards are paid via BACS into the applicant’s bank account within 7 working days.