Five free cash schemes closing within weeks – how to claim up to £500 now

FIVE free cash schemes are closing within weeks so you'll need to be quick to apply.

The cash is available through the Household Support Fund - but eligible households will need to be quick to secure it.

The scheme was first established last year and extended for a second time in the March budget to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

But the Household Support Fund has been extended for a third time with a renewed £1billion fund.

Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.

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

The scheme was first established last year and extended for a second time in the March budget to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

But the Household Support Fund has been extended for a third time with a renewed £1billion fund.

Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.

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

For example, those living in North Yorkshire have just days left to redeem supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.

And households in Luton, Powys and Harrow have until February 28 to apply for free cash worth up to £500.

North Yorkshire Council

Thousands of residents in North Yorkshire will have received electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.

But households have just a week left to redeem supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.

The e-vouchers need to be redeemed ahead of the deadline of 15 February - but you'll be able to spend the value on them after this date.

Those living in North Yorkshire did not need to apply for the cash help.

Anyone eligible was sent a letter by January, 16.

You'll have been eligible if you were receiving housing benefit on or between August 26 2022, and September 25 2022, but did not qualify for the second cost of living payment worth £325.

Those getting the maximum discount to pay their council tax bill through the means-tested council tax reduction scheme as of November 30 2022, will have also received a single electronic voucher worth £85.

Luton Council

Residents eligible for the Household Support Scheme who live in Luton can get between £100 and £500.

Eligible residents can choose to receive the support through:

• Grocery vouchers
• Cash vouchers
• Utility vouchers

The application-based scheme is open to Luton residents who meet the following criteria:

• They have savings of less than £6,000 AND
• They are in receipt of certain eligible benefits OR
• Have a household income of less than £34,100

The qualifying benefits include:

• Jobseeker’s allowance (including those not on Universal Credit)
• Employment and support allowance (including those not on Universal Credit)
• Income support
• Pension Credit
• Tax credits (child and working tax credit)
• Council tax reduction
• Universal Credit
• Housing benefit only
• Carers allowance

Anyone who meets the above criteria can submit an application for support on Luton Borough Council's website.

The deadline to apply for the support is February 28.

Powys Council

Any households getting a low income benefit may be entitled to a one-off payment of £200 from Powys Council to provide some support towards paying fuel bills.

To get the grant you or your partner must have received one of the following benefits on any one day between September 2, 2022 and January 31, 2023:

• Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS)
• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credits
• Child Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carers Allowance including anyone on underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance but who don't receive any money due to the overlapping benefit rules
• Contributory Based/New Style Jobseekers Allowance
• Contributory Based/New Style Employment and Support Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

Some households getting certain low income benefit may be entitled to a further one-off payment of £150 from Powys Council if they are responsible for paying off-grid heating fuel bills.

You'll need to apply for the energy bill support by February 28 on the council's website.

Harrow Council

To be eligible for a £300 one-off payment from Harrow Council, you will need to have become entitled to a number of qualifying means-tested benefits between May 26, 2022 and September 30, 2022.

This includes Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit and Income Support.

You can apply if you were entitled to a number of disability benefits between May 26 and September 30 last year too.

This includes Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and War Pension Mobility Supplement.

You can't apply if you have received the £650 cost of living payment, the £150 cost of living disability payment, or a £100 voucher under the Household Support Fund.

The full list of eligibility criteria is available on Harrow Council's website - so you check on there to see if you can claim.

Applications need to be submitted by February 28 to secure the cash.

Bedford Council

Bedford Borough Council is giving out £85 free cash to spend on energy and water bills as well as food.

More than 50% of the funding will go to families with children who qualify for free school meals - though many more will qualify.

The amount you will receive depends on your circumstances.

For example, pensioners entitled to 100% council tax support will get £85 while pensioners entitled to less will be given £50.

Then, households entitled to 100% council tax support will get £85 while those who qualify for less will receive £50.

Applicants must be over the age of 18, have recourse to public funds, live in the area and be struggling with costs of the above.

They must also receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, but not any of the following benefits:

• Pension Credits
• Universal Credit 
• Child Tax Credits
• Working Tax Credits
• Income Support
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance.

The deadline to apply is February 28.

You can apply for the cash via the council's website, you'll need to use a passcode which you should have received in a letter about the scheme.

What other support is available?

As part of the Autumn Statement, it was revealed millions on benefits and Universal Credit will receive an extra one-off £900.

Struggling families are also eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living.

The scheme is where eligible households can get £150 off their electricity bill each winter - but you'll have to wait until the colder months to get the money off.

Households in England and Wales don't need to apply to get the cash and they'll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.

You can read more about who's eligible in our guide.

There are also plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you're struggling:

• British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
• British Gas Energy Trust
• EDF Customer Support Fund
• E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
• Octopus Energy Assist Fund
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund

There's also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you're on a prepayment meter.