HOUSEHOLDS have just days left to apply for free £225 cash to cover food and other essential bills.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, a pot of £421million which has been shared between councils in England.
You might be eligible for free money through the Household Support Fund[/caption]
Local authorities then have to decide how to distribute their share of the fund, and who to.
City of Doncaster Council has been given almost £3million to share among residents in need as part of its latest round.
The authority is providing one-off payments to households who receive either housing benefit, local council tax reduction, Universal Credit which includes a housing element or means-tested free school meals.
Payments are being made to households where at least one person is aged between 16 and 64, also known as a working-age adult.
Households without children are being issued £75 payments and those with one or two dependent children £150.
Residents living in homes with three or more dependent children qualify for £225 payments.
Meanwhile, pensioner households receiving Pension Credit get £50 payments and those not eligible for the benefit get £150.
Anyone who received a payment under a previous round of the Household Support Fund should have already received their money.
These payments should have been made by December 13.
However, households who have not yet received help via the Household Support Fund or who should have qualified automatically but didn’t receive a payment will have to apply by 5pm on Friday.
The online application form can be found via www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/council-tax-benefits/household-support-fund.
Eligible households can decide whether they want the up to £225 payments paid as cheques or by bank transfer.
What about if I don’t live in Doncaster?
The latest round of the Household Support Fund opened on October 1 with councils having to allocate all funding before March 31.
Councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also been given £79million between them to distribute to residents in need.
That means you could be eligible for help if you live outside of Doncaster.
Eligibility criteria varies depending on where you live, but in most cases you will receive help if you’re on benefits, a low income or classed as vulnerable.
However, because the latest round has to be allocated by the end of next month, a lot of councils may have depleted their funds.
Some local authorities have set deadlines of this Friday for households to apply for help worth up to £200 though.
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.
This includes Calderdale Council, Canterbury Council, Leicester City Council and Portsmouth City Council.
If you’re on benefits or a low income, it’s worth checking with your local council if you’re eligible for help now.
Other help you can claim
If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might qualify for other forms of help to cover energy bills or food.
Several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000.
This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF.
New parents might also be eligible for free food worth up to £442 a year to cover the cost of healthy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme.
Or, you can get food on the cheap at Trussell Trust food banks. You can find your nearest via www.trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.
It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for benefits if you haven’t already – billions of pounds worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.
There are three free calculators you can use to see what you might be entitled to:
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