THOUSANDS of households can apply for a free £270 supermarket voucher to help with cost of living bills.
Those in need of that extra cash must pay attention to the application deadline, which is just in a few weeks.
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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.
The scheme will assist households most vulnerable to major increases in the cost of living.
It works by handing councils up and down the country a slice of funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
Each local authority gets a different proportion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.
The voucher or grant amounts vary by location, so you must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) is one of the many councils that have shared their eligibility criteria for the scheme.
Those interested in getting the cash voucher must live in the BCP Council area, be over the age of 16 and living independently of parents or carers.
Eligible applicants must also be struggling to pay for essentials because they don’t have enough money to pay for them.
Anyone wanting to apply can do so via the Citizens Advice BCP website, which will manage and allocate this fund on behalf of BCP Council.
You will need to provide evidence of residency in the BCP Council area and a form of ID such as a Drivers Licence or passport.
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.
You will also have to include a summary for every person in your household not in full-time education, as well as your proof of income, such as a recent bank statement.
Make sure to submit your application on time, as it will only be accepted until Friday, August 16 2024, at midnight.
Grant vouchers are only issued to the listed applicant or the person designated by them to receive vouchers on their behalf.
Those with sufficient savings or income may not fit the criteria for ‘struggling to afford household essentials’.
There is a strong demand for the HSF grant, and applications may take up to eight weeks to process, so it’s best to constantly check your email and junk/spam folders not to miss an update.
BCP Council also said: “Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee that you will receive the grant and your application may be rejected due to lack of funds.
“While we try to support as many applicants as possible, the funds are limited compared to number of applications we receive.”
What if I don’t live in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
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.
Rutland County Council will provide one payment of £200 to care leavers this month.
And in Tower Hamlets, households can get a free £100 cost of living payment to help with key household bills.
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.