HELPING HAND
Struggling households to get support with £238 this winter – are you one of them?
Keep scrolling to see other councils offering cash this winter
STRUGGLING households could be eligible for support worth £238 to help with the cost of living.
Hard-up families can claim support to help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund (HSF).
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The HSF offers help to struggling households and has been extended several times since it was introduced by the Government in 2021.
Funding is given to local councils to distribute, so the support available varies across the country.
What you can get depends on where you live but the money could be paid out as a direct cash transfer or shopping vouchers.
The fund is usually given out based on your financial circumstances and what benefits you receive.
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It's been announced that households in Leicestershire in need of support can apply for a financial award of £198 per household.
The money is paid through food and electricity vouchers to help with rising costs.
How much you can get depends on whether or not you have children or live in a home with multiple adults.
You can the following amount in food vouchers if you have:
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- Households with children - £20 per adult per week, £15 per child per week (for a maximum of two weeks)
- Single households - £25 per week (for a maximum of two weeks)
- Multiple adult households - £20 per adult per week (for a maximum of two weeks)
Households with children can get £98 in fuel support, while single households can get £56.
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So for example, two-parent households with two children could get support worth £238.
Applications must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be a resident of Leicestershire over 16 years old.
- Must be experiencing financial hardship
- Had their and/or their children's identity verified by the professional submitting the application, for example, by using a form of photo ID
- Had their pensionable age verified by the professional submitting the application
- Had their proof of address verified by a professional
- Eligibility is confirmed by the suitable professional making the application.
A referral must be made on behalf of applicants, from a professional support worker or agency.
But if you think you could be eligible then it is worth getting in touch with your local council to see if they can advise.
What if I don't live in Leicestershire?
It is not only households in Leicestershire that have access to the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The government has promised to pump a further £1billion into the fund over 2025 and 2026.
This is on top of the £421 million top-up which was announced in September and saw the scheme extended until March 2025.
Some examples of what other councils are doing include Rotherham Council, which is now offering struggling families £250 grants to fight the cost of living.
Rotherham Council says that to qualify for the grant, residents must have no more than £150 remaining each month after covering essential expenses like food, rent or mortgage, and utility bills.
You do not need to be on benefits to apply for the fund.
How to know if you qualify?
Financial support available to struggling households varies from council to council, so it is worth checking what schemes your local council offers to ensure you get all the support you need.
The benefits you already receive will not be impacted by applying for the HSF.
And, you do not necessarily need to receive benefits in the first place to get vouchers or funds from the HSF.
To get the help, you'll need to check with your council - as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
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Information on how to apply for the funding should be published on your council's website. Each council will have a different application process.
If there's no information on your council's website, then it's best to ring them up and ask for more information.
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.
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