The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million.

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The fund was set up by the government and has been allocated to councils across England to distribute to residents in need.

There’s no set criteria on who is eligible for the help as it depends on where you live, but generally, money is given to families on low incomes or benefits.

But thousands of households living in the Rother District Council catchment area can get a one-off payment of £250.

What are councils offering and who is eligible?

Local authorities have had some autonomy on how they use the Fund to reach the vulnerable people in their communities.

Eligibility requirements will vary depending on where you live – so check directly with your council if you could get the cash help.

If your local authority is Rother District Council, you could be eligible for a one-off payment worth £250 direct into their bank account.

The application-based scheme is open to Luton residents who meet the following criteria:

• Live within Rother District.
• Be over the age of 18.
• Find it difficult to pay for heating, lighting, water or food.
• Be in receipt of housing benefit or a Council Tax reduction.

If you receive any of the following benefits, you will not be eligible for the payment:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support
• Income-Based Job-Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

You can apply on the Rother District Council website, where you will beed to provide an up-to-date bank statement and an energy or water bill.

The fund will close on March 31, or when all the cash has been allocated.

What if I don’t live in Rother?

Your local council will likely have its own version of the scheme going and you should get in contact with them to find out more.

But be quick – while the deadline for councils to hand out the latest tranche of HSF cash support is March 31, 2023, it’s done on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For example, thousands of residents in Plymouth are due electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.

And eligible households can get up to £180 in free supermarket vouchers depending on their circumstances.

Thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are also due electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.

What other support is available?

As part of the Autumn Statement, it was revealed millions on benefits and Universal Credit will receive an extra one-off £900.

Eight million households currently get cost-of-living payments worth up to £650, but eligibility criteria could change under any new rules.

Pensioners have also started getting a £300 one-off payment.

The current pensioner cost of living payment is being handed out to millions on a low income.

You qualify under the current rules if you normally get the winter fuel payment, but this could change under the new rules.

The £300 cost of living payment is paid on top of the other winter support.

You’ll need to be:

• born on or before 25 September 1956
• have lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 in what is known as the “qualifying week”

Struggling families are eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living.

The scheme is where eligible households can get £150 off their electricity bill each winter – but you’ll have to wait until the colder months to get the money off.

Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they are receiving certain benefits.

You can read more about who’s eligible here.

There are also plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling:

• British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
• British Gas Energy Trust
• EDF Customer Support Fund
• E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
• Octopus Energy Assist Fund
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund

There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment meter.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]