A WARNING has been issued as hundreds of households have just days left to claim £250 cash or miss out for good.

Councils have been dishing out a Government-owned pot of money called The Household Support Fund (HSF), to those who cannot afford to pay for essentials like food and bills.

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The scheme has been available since April 1 and was worth £421 million, paid out by local authorities.

Through the scheme, households in Canterbury can claim up to £250 but be warned, the deadline closes on September 20, just three days from now.

If you are wondering whether you are eligible to claim the cash, don’t worry, we have compiled an exemplary criteria list for you.

• You must be aged 16 or over.
• Live in the Canterbury area (including students).
• Have a total household income of £40,000 or less – including money from employment or benefits
• No more than £1,000 in savings and no access to other financial to support.

As mentioned previously, the cash is to afford basic essentials.

You can apply for one of three different areas of support:

• Help with food costs – £250
• Help with energy costs – £250
• Other essentials like period products, clothes and broadband – £250

Each local council offers the HSF but eligibility criteria may differ from place to place.

The scheme has been refreshed five times now, so some councils have already dished out all the cash.

It’s up to each council as to how they distribute the pot of money, provided it is in alignment with the Government’s guidance.

This is why the amount of cash available differs depending on which local council you are a part of.

For example, Tower Hamlets Council handed out payments worth £100.

While Plymouth Council provided up to £750.

To find your local council, head to GOV.UK and click find your local council.

There, you can enter your postcode and a list of councils and their services should appear.

You must check the individual council’s criteria to ensure that you meet the requirements to be handed the cash.

Often, councils offer cash to residents on selected benefits or below a household income threshold.

It’s always useful to check for any other schemes your local council offers, as you may be entitled to help beyond the HSF.

Being on benefits already won’t affect your HSF application.

How to apply 

Check how to apply with your council as processes also differ.

Information on how to apply for the funding should be published on your council’s website.

If there’s no information on your council’s website, ring up and ask for more information.

More support with the cost of living

There are other ways to receive financial support aside from the HSF.

You must make sure you are already getting all the benefits you are entitled to.

Millions of people miss out on help they could be claiming.

You can use a benefit tool such as turn2us to work out what you are due.

Then apply for benefits through the Government’s website.

Many of these benefits unlock further freebies or perks.

For example, those on Universal Credit can get help covering the cost of childcare, while people claiming Pension Credit can get a free TV licence.

If energy bills are a specific problem, you may be able to get grants to cover debts.

A number of energy firms offer grants to struggling customers, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy and British Gas.

If paying energy bills is a concern for you, it’s always best to speak to your supplier to see how they help.