HELPING HAND
Map reveals free cash help for thousands of struggling families worth up to £740 – see if you can claim
Check out how you can get the help below
A MAP reveals where in England hard-up households can get free cost of living cash worth up to £740.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million to local authorities across the country.
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A further £79million has been shared between local authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The HSF is designed to support vulnerable and low income households across the country with the cost of essentials such as food and energy.
What you are entitled to exactly depends on where you live as each local authority decides how to distribute its share of the fund.
In some cases you could be eligible for payments worth as much as £740.
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The form of help also varies with some areas offering vouchers, while some councils are paying money directly into people's bank accounts.
For example, Norfolk County Council is giving out vouchers or bank transfers into eligible households' accounts, depending on what they qualify for.
Meanwhile, Waltham Forest Council, in London, is handing out food vouchers to children on benefits-related free school meals.
The latest round of funding must be distributed by councils by September 30, but funds are given out on a first come, first served basis, so it's better to apply sooner rather than later.
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It's worth bearing in mind though that because the latest round of HSF has been running since April 1, some councils may have already run out of their allotted share of funding.
In any case, it is worth contacting your local council to see if you can get help in your area.
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You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government's council locator tool.
You just have to enter your postcode and it tells you which authority you need to contact.
How much can I get?
Search our map below to find out what help is available where you live.
Areas in grey may still be offering the help so it's worth checking directly with your local authority.
Here are some examples of what you might get through the household support fund.
Plymouth - up to £740
Plymouth City Council said eligible residents can receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers.
This includes £240 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi, or Iceland, and £200 in energy vouchers.
It also includes an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers.
Blackpool - up to £300
Households with one or two people - including children - will see £200 paid directly to their energy provider.
Those with three or more will get £300 paid towards their energy costs.
Middlesbrough - up to £70
People in the area who claim benefits and do not have children can apply for a £50 voucher.
Those living alone will get up to £37.50 and couples will get £50. If there are children in your household, you'll get a voucher for £70 per child.
Leicestershire - up to £300
Households in Leicestershire can apply for £300 per household, which will be paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food.
The payment can be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.
Leeds - up to £100
Residents of Leeds who receive council tax support with dependent children can claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25.
Eligible households will have received letters featuring a barcode that can then be taken to the post office along with ID to claim the cash.
Bracknell Forest - up to £315
Applicants could be eligible for a one-off £105 payment per child between now and September, if applicants meet the qualifying benefits.
Cambridgeshire County - up to £220
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household. Residents can apply twice for support between now and September 30, meaning each household could receive as much as £220.
The funds can be paid in a lump sum of £110 or as vouchers.
Falkirk - up to £470
The amount residents can get under the HSF depends on the number of people in their household.
A single adult will receive £110, with an additional £90 payment made for every further resident. For example, a couple with no dependent children would receive £200.
Stockport - up to £315
Stockport Council is giving out vouchers worth £105 to families struggling to pay for essentials.
The fund is paid per child, so if you have three children you would be entitled to £315 worth of supermarket vouchers.
Do I need to apply and who is eligible?
Depending on where you live, you may have to apply.
In most cases, councils ask you to do this on their websites by filling out online forms, while others let you call or email to apply.
Other local authorities are sending out vouchers and payments automatically so you just have to sit tight and wait.
Eligibility criteria varies from council to council too, although in most cases, you will receive help if you are on a low income, benefits or classed as vulnerable.
For example, those in East Riding, Yorkshire, can apply for help if their income is below £32,000 and two or more people live in the home.
Meanwhile, Reading Council, in Berkshire, is dishing out help to those with a disability, victims of crime and veterans.
Again, check with your local council what help you qualify for.
Other help you can get with the cost of living
If you're not eligible for the Household Support Fund in your local area, it's worth checking if you qualify for benefits.
Recent figures from Policy in Practice reveal millions of people aren't claiming the extra help when they could be.
In total, £23billion went unclaimed over the last financial year, with £8.3billion worth of Universal Credit not claimed for.
You can apply for benefits on the Government's website.
It's not just extra money you get from benefits either, with a number opening up additional perks.
Those on Universal Credit can get help covering the cost of childcare, for example, while those on Pension Credit can get a free TV licence.
History of the Household Support Fund
Here is everything you need to know...
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
The current fund is due to close on September 30 although there have been calls to extend it again.
Those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit also qualify for the Warm Home Discount - a £150 discount off energy bills once a year.
You may also be able to get grants to cover your energy bills if you've fallen into arrears.
A number of energy firms offer grants to struggling customers, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy and British Gas.
If you're struggling to pay your bills, speak to your supplier to see if they can give you any help.
You might also be able to get help via the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
Under the scheme, suppliers have a legal obligation to implement energy-saving measures in your home.
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Help is offered on a case-by-case basis, but it can mean having a new boiler fitted, or loft or cavity wall insulation put in, often for free.
You also have to be claiming certain benefits to qualify for the scheme.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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