HELPING HAND
Thousands of households to get £100 cost of living cash after losing Winter Fuel Payment – will you be eligible?
See what other help you can get to heat your home
THOUSANDS of low-income households will receive cash after losing out on their Winter Fuel Payments.
Introduced during the cost of living crisis, the Household Support Fund has been extended this month and will run until March next year.
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Part of the scheme has already been set to send vouchers worth £100 to pensioners.
This means that those who have a low income but no longer qualify for winter fuel payments may still be able to receive financial aid during the cold months.
Those eligible due to their low income will start receiving the added support from January if living under the remit of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
The local authority has posted on Facebook to inform their residents that pensioners over 66 could be entitled to receive "up to £180 worth" of "extra support" in January.
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Added financial aid has been allocated for those most in need of help to afford their essentials, with local councils being allocated the funding from central government.
The scheme has been rolled out to benefit those who are struggling to afford winter essentials such as energy and water bills, food, and wider essentials.
Introduced in October 2021, the latest support has seen a number of ways those eligible may be entitled to claim further help.
For instance, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have offered those already receiving a Council Tax Reduction, to be automatically sent an £80 voucher.
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This is meant to go towards the cost of energy and food payments and the vouchers could even be exchanged for cash, just in time for Christmas.
From the end of November, there will be no need to contact the local authority, with PayPal outlets allowing the swap to take place.
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Anyone not receiving a Council Tax Reduction may still be able to get hold of a discretionary payment of £80 if they are eligible.
This requires them to be living in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, not already receiving the Council Tax Reduction, liable to pay the household energy bills or prepayment meters.
Their total net weekly household income should also not exceed £425 for a single person, £525 for a couple or £625 for a family.
Individuals unsure of whether they are entitled to claim support under the latest extension of the scheme should contact their local council to find out more.
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.
Previously, the winter fuel payment was worth up to £300 and could be claimed by everyone over the state pension age.
However, Rachel Reeves recently revealed in the Budget that this payment would no longer be automatic and instead be limited to retirees on pension credit.
Some means-tested individuals may also continue to be entitled to the payments but the vast majority of those who would usually rely on the cash will not be able to do so.
Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, recently offered some advice for those left at a loss from the Chancellor's announcement.
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He said: "Do you have earnings of under around £220 a week? If it's under that level, apply for pension credit.
"It's worth an average of £3,900 a year, and you will get your winter fuel payment."
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How do I apply for pension credit?
You can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
Applications for pension credit can be made on the government website or by ringing the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.
You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you'll need to be with them when they do.
You'll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:
- National Insurance number
- Information about any income, savings and investments you have
- Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually three months ago or the date you reached state pension age)
You can also check your eligibility online by visiting gov.uk/pension-credit first.
If you claim after you reach pension age, you can backdate your claim for up to three months.
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