Thousands of struggling households to get £240 free cash in WEEKS – check if you’re eligible
THOUSANDS of struggling households can get £240 in free cash in a matter of weeks.
The support is provided through the Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme, which has been extended until September 2024.
The local council in Cornwall has been awarded an extra £4.5million as part of the government’s free scheme.
Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.
Households could get supermarket vouchers or cash grants worth up to £500.
But the exact amount you can get will depend on where you live, so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
Some councils will make payouts automatically and others will require you to fill in an application form.
You’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.
For hard-up pressed households in Cornwall, they can get up to £80 per child – so if you have three kids in your family you could get as much as £240.
There are a few different categories families need to fall into to get the cash.
Here’s what you can get:
- £80 payment to pensioners in receipt of pension credit
- £80 payment to adults assessed receiving care
- £80 payment per child for families receiving council tax support on June 3, 2024
- £80 payment per child for families living in emergency accommodation on June 3, 2024
The payments will be made automatically by the end of June, Cornwall Council said.
This means you won’t need to apply for the cash.
Anyone who is eligible for Council Tax Support but doesn’t receive it must claim by May 31 to receive the £80 payment.
Local community charities and organisations will too be set to see some extra cash flowing their way.
Cllr Dr Andy Virr, portfolio holder for adults and public health, said: “The cost-of-living crisis continues to have a huge impact on many families across Cornwall so it is good to see we have again secured this significant funding to help as many as possible.
“I hope it will go some way to ensure pensioners and parents in particular can pay their bills and put food on the table for their families.”
Families can find out more by visiting www.cornwall.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/household-support-fund.
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.
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.
Chancellor Jeremey Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
What help can I get if I don’t live in Cornwall?
Councils up and down the country get a portion of the cash to allocate to vulnerable households.
For example, Medway Council in Kent, South-East England, is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.
Some could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100 too.
Households in Herefordshire can get up to £500 depending on their circumstances and level of need.
Local communities in the Isle of Wight have been awarded extra funding as part of the government’s Household Support Fund.
Thousands of Brits are set to receive £50 in food vouchers to help vulnerable households.
Get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
The help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or to cover costs of your weekly grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
And, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.
How do I apply?
Once you’ve found your council, there should be information on how to apply for funding 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 – it’s best to check with your local council for more details.
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 its best to ring them up and ask for more information.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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