Thousands of households have just weeks left to apply for free £100 cost of living cash – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of households have just weeks left to apply for a free £100 cash payment.
The money, which is being dished out to help with rising bills, is part of the national Household Support Fund (HSF).
The government has added a further £842million into the HSF pot of cash which councils are giving out to local residents.
But each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and what’s most needed.
The fund is designed to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The vouchers or cash grants on offer vary by location so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
It tends to be those on low income who receive the help.
Thousands of residents in Nottinghamshire will be given £100 in free cash but they need to apply by September 30.
The support is already on its way to more than 27,000 households to help with rising bills, the council said.
But it’s warned that 7,000 more people are still entitled to apply.
The county council said it has now written to all households eligible for the help.
These include those who claim either form of Pension Credit and families with children who are eligible for free school meals or equivalent.
Qualifying households living in who have received a letter for the cash payment and haven’t applied yet are now being reminded to do so.
The council said the quickest and easiest way is through an online form on the website.
Others can also call the customer service team on 0300 500 8080 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4.30pm on Friday.
Anyone eligible who hasn’t received a letter can get in touch by emailing householdsupportfund@nottscc.gov.uk and include “Missing HSF letter” is in the email subject.
The council said it aims to process applications in 10 working days.
For those living in the Nottingham city area, they’re urged to check their own council’s site.
Below we outline the support for those who don’t live in Nottinghamshire, plus more help available.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Nottinghamshire?
Yes, but the help available to you will depend on where you live.
Each council is distributing their share of the HSF differently.
Some are handing out vouchers, while others are making bank transfers to eligible residents.
The amount you are entitled to will vary depending on the area you live in too.
If you’re not sure which council is in charge of your area, you can tap your postcode into the government’s local council checker tool to find out.
The most common types of support provided each year are supermarket vouchers, fuel vouchers and one-off payments.
For example, thousands of residents in Ealing will be given £175 in supermarket vouchers to spend in October.
Bear in mind that some councils may not have opened the application process for the latest round of funding yet, so keep an eye out.
What energy bill help is available?
Millions are also in line to receive cost of living payments worth up to £1,350.
The first instalment of the £900 payment has been paid to millions on certain benefits, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
A further two payments are due in the Autumn later this year as well as Spring 2024.
Plus, pensioners who are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023/24 will get an extra £150 or £300 paid on top of their normal payment later this year.
Energy suppliers also offer plenty of energy grants and schemes to help you out if you’re struggling.
You can get a grant from your energy supplier if you’re really struggling and need help paying off debts.
Scottish Power, for example, gives up to £750 per household to the most hard-up households.
Most hardship funds have no deadline and you can apply all year round.
Meanwhile, those struggling can apply for a range of schemes that provide free cash, vouchers and more and you could get thousands of pounds – see our full list.
Plus, here is the full list of benefits that don’t qualify for the cost of living payments.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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