THOUSANDS of low-income households can apply for a free £100 cost of living payment to help with key household bills.
Councils have been sharing their local scheme’s criteria for the government’s Household Support Fund, which was renewed for the fifth time in April.
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The Household Support Fund will assist households most vulnerable to major increases in the cost of living.
Councils must make some of the cash available to households on an application basis.
In Tower Hamlets, this is offered through the council’s Resident Support Scheme, which accepts applications from all Tower Hamlets residents, regardless of benefit status.
The payments are to be made in the coming months as the local authority will be getting cash from April 1 to September 31 this year.
The council said that £600,000 has been ring-fenced for this scheme.
The Resident Support Scheme will assist residents who are at danger of experiencing a crisis or who require emergency assistance but have no other financial resources.
It can help with short-term living expenses such as credit, food and gas/electric prepaid meters.
It can also be useful in some situations with white goods and furnishings.
Cash-out vouchers are offered for a number of cohorts that are the least fortunate financially; these cohorts include some households with children, people with disabilities, retirees, single parents, and young carers.
Thousands of applicants are eligible but the maximum award available can range between £60 and £100.
The provider will give residents the physical item when they apply for and are granted household items.
When needed, the item will be installed on their behalf.
In order to guarantee that people receive the most assistance possible, the programme will also direct them to further sources of support.
To try to address the resident’s long-term requirements, there may also be the chance to refer them for guidance and help with debt, money, and/or welfare benefits.
Supermarket vouchers will also be given to households who are currently receiving assistance from other council teams, such as the teams that deal with social work, temporary housing, homelessness, and violence against women and girls.
Applications can be made via www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/rss and are open all year round.
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 £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
What if I don’t live in Tower Hamlets?
To get the help, you’ll need to check with your council – as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you’ve found your council, there should be information on how to apply on its website.
Each council will have a different application process – so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary.
Some councils won’t require you to apply for the help and they’ll contact you about it instead if you qualify.
If there’s no information on your council’s website, then it’s best to ring them up and ask for more information.
What are other councils offering?
Residents in Blackpool can receive up to £300 in support from the Household Support Fund.
Those living in Bracknell Forest could be eligible for a £315 cash grant.
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
Those living in Falkirk in receipt of a council tax reduction, housing benefit, Universal Credit, income support, jobseekers allowance or pension credit can apply for up to £470 in cash support.
Middlesborough is awarding hard-up families up to £70.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE’S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.