HELPING HAND
Thousands of households to get up to £75 in free supermarket vouchers to help with the cost of living – will you?
See what other support is on offer to help with energy bills
THOUSANDS of Brits are eligible for up to £75 in free supermarket vouchers to help with the cost of living.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, with the latest round worth up to £421million.
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Each council across England has been allocated a share of the pot and decides who to distribute support to.
That means what you are entitled to varies based on where you live.
West Sussex County Council is handing out supermarket vouchers to thousands of households in need.
Households with one or more adults will get £50 in supermarket vouchers while those with one child will receive £50.
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Those with two or more children will get £75 worth of vouchers.
The county council said those with children, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers, disabled people, larger families and single-person households could all be eligible.
You should contact the council if you fall into one of these groups.
What about if I don't live in West Sussex?
You may be able to get help if you live outside of West Sussex.
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Each council across England has been allocated their own share of the fund and decides who to distribute it to.
That means it can be a bit of a postcode lottery as to what you are entitled to and whether you will qualify for help.
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However, you will most likely be eligible for help if you are on benefits, a low income, or classed as vulnerable.
The government's guidance specifically states: "Funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials.
"You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.
"If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme."
The support from your local council might come in the form of energy or supermarket vouchers, or cash payments.
For example, thousands of households in Darlington, County Durham, qualify for food vouchers to cover the school holidays.
Meanwhile, Rotherham Council is offering struggling families £250 grants to combat the cost of living.
OTHER HELP ON OFFER
If you're not eligible for the Household Support Fund in your local area, it's worth checking if you qualify for benefits.
Figures from Policy in Practice earlier this year revealed millions of people aren't claiming the extra help when they could be.
In total, £23billion went unclaimed in the 2023/24 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.
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.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
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 £421million 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.
In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.
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