Pensioner cost of living payments worth up to £210 landing on doormats NOW – will you get one?
HUNDREDS of pensioners are set to receive a cost of living payment voucher up to £120 on their doorstep.
For those who need a little bit of help this Christmas, the Household Support Fund offers some assistance to low income households.
The Household Support Fund is worth £421million and aims to help with gas, electricity, and food during the winter months.
It’ll be split across local authorities that will individually decide who is eligible.
All households issued the support will be offered the vouchers automatically so there’s no need to reach out to the council.
Wakefield Council has set aside some money for pensioners receiving a council tax reduction but not pension credit.
They have recently released the conditions of their eligibility scheme.
To qualify for the voucher from this council you must live in Wakefiel,d be over the age of 16 and not living with family or friends, be responsible for the rent, receive a low income, and have no access to other public funds.
How much will I get?
For pensioners who still receive the Winter Fuel Allowance you should receive £80 worth of supermarket voucher.
This will be issued between November 6 and November 15.
If you are pensioner who no longer gets the Winter Fuel Allowance you could receive a supermarket voucher of £130.
The voucher should also arrive between November 6 and November 15.
For other households in receipt of Council Tax Support there should be £80 heading your way.
This will get to you between December 2 and December 11.
The vouchers should arrive within seven days with a set of instruction of how to redeem it.
What will the fund cover?
The aim of the fund is to support with rising living costs, especially for those who don’t receive other forms of support.
It’ll cover the costs of food, housekeeping and other essential bills like gas and electricity.
Items like clothing can be covered, including school uniforms, and beds and bedding.
It can’t be spent on non-urgent items, cash payments, mortgage costs, or rent.
What if I don’t live in Wakefield?
The Household Support Fund will be accessible all around the country.
The £421million fund budget will be spread across each council but each authority will decide its own eligibility.
Not all councils have published what they plan to do with the Household Support Fund budget yet.
If you’re keen to find out what support is available to you, you can contact your local council and ask if there is any help on offer.
For those unsure which council they should contact, you can find your council area by using the Government’s council locator tool via gov.uk.
The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help you find out what you may be able to claim.
Other help on offer
You might be able to get some support from you energy firm if you haven’t receive a Household Support Fund voucher.
For example, British Gas is handing out up to £1,700 worth of grants to UK households.
This is through the company’s Individual and Families Fund and is accessible to people living in England, Scotland, and Wales – even if you’re not a British Gas customer.
To be eligible to get this support you must have been given help from a money advice agency in the last six months and .
You’ll also need to have not received a grant from The British Gas Energy in the last six months.
Other energy companies have their own support network for customers.
These include OVO, Boost, E.On, E.On Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita.
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 £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.