HELPING HAND
Thousands of households to get automatic £80 payment in weeks for energy, food and water bills
Read on to see exactly how to apply for the cash from across the UK
THOUSANDS of households are set to be handed an automatic £80 payment within weeks.
The cash will be a welcome boost for those looking to save on their energy, food and water bills in the coming weeks.
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The support is available through the UK government's Household Support Fund (HSF).
Vulnerable residents living within the Cornwall Council district area could be eligible after they managed to secure £4.5million from the Department for Work and Pension.
This additional funding towards the HSF means the scheme can continue for a further six months.
The new round of cash payments have already started with people able to apply from October 1 up until March 31, 2025.
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First payments will be made automatically by the end of November 2024.
The Cornwall Council website have laid out several payments available to a range of vulnerable locals.
Pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Support can get £80.
And for those families receiving Council Tax Support each child can pocket you £80.
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The same bonus applies per child for those living in emergency accommodation.
Those applicable must have been on the relevant support scheme on October, 21, 2024.
If eligible for any one of the payments, residents will be sent a letter or an email from the council.
Inside it will say how much will be going into your bank and to which account.
No further action is required.
To find out more you can visit the .
What if I don't live in Cornwall?
What you can get depends on where you live and what support is available.
Each local council receives a portion of a £421million fund handed out by the government.
It is distributed to residents based on need.
Some councils may provide direct cash payments, while others issue vouchers to help cover essentials like energy or food.
How the money is distributed will vary, so it's important to .
For example, Birmingham City Council has announced £200 payments to help residents with winter costs.
Other councils, like Coventry, have offered community supermarket schemes, where households can pay £5 a week and get a basket of food worth up to £25.
However, there are changes to the scheme this time around.
Some councils have introduced monthly caps on funding, meaning once the allocated amount for the month is spent, applications are paused until the following month.
This is to ensure that everyone has a chance to receive support, but it does mean you should apply as soon as possible.
HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND EXPLAINED
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date.
Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible.
Who's generally eligible for the scheme?
The Household Support Fund is designed to help households in financial difficulty, particularly those on low incomes or those who don’t qualify for other forms of government assistance.
If you’re struggling to make ends meet due to rising living costs, you could be eligible for support.
The criteria you need to meet will vary depending on where you live.
You’ll likely need to prove your financial hardship when applying.
This can include showing evidence of your income, benefits or other forms of support you’re currently receiving.
For example, if you’re receiving Universal Credit or a council tax reduction, you could qualify.
But even if you’re not on benefits, you may still be able to get help if you can demonstrate financial hardship.
Do I need to apply?
Applications for the Household Support Fund are handled by your local council, and the process can vary depending on where you live.
Most councils offer online application forms, but if you need help completing an application, you can call your council’s customer service centre for assistance.
To apply, you’ll need to provide details such as your National Insurance number and may need to submit bank statements or benefit evidence.
If you’re applying for a family member or someone else, there’s also an option to upload supporting documents like benefit letters or pay slips to prove eligibility.
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Some councils, such as Haringey, are issuing automatic payments to eligible residents, while others require residents to apply directly.
If you're unsure of the process in your area, it’s best to check your local council's website.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity works out what you could get.
Entitledto's determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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