Thousands of hard-up Brits eligible for up to £500 free cash to help with living costs – how to apply
THOUSANDS of hard-up Brits are eligible for up to £500 free cash to help with living costs, but certain criteria have to be met.
Camden Council in London is awarding the help as part of the Household Support Fund – here’s how you could claim the cash.
It is aimed at helping households with their bills, in a scheme that provides the funds to local authorities, who in turn supply it directly to the residents.
But it isn’t as easy as that, because each council can set its criteria for who is eligible for this help, and what type of support it will offer.
This essentially means that Brits are playing a postcode lottery to decide what help is available to them.
Who is eligible for the schemes
In Camden, the council is prioritising applications from residents who have not received a Cost of Living Crisis Fund payment in the last 12 months.
To be eligible in Camden, you must be over 18, or over 16 if you live independently, and have lived in Camden for at least six weeks.
Applicants will be asked to provide bank statements to prove that they are in “urgent financial need”.
Those who live in the area and need financial support are advised to apply through the Money Advice Service.
The scheme isn’t just happening in London, Brits all over the country could get the help they need.
Solihull, Birmingham residents can also get free help worth £500 to pay off water and energy debts.
To apply for this specific scheme, you must live in Solihull and have a combined annual household income of under £31,000.
The requirements further state that you have no household savings, except if you’re a pensioner, then you can have up to £5,000 in savings.
Those who live in Solihull must have someone living in the household with a vulnerability and receive a qualifying benefit.
At the top end of the country in Blackpool, the council is giving payments of up to £300 to households, paid directly to your energy or water supplier.
As it is not cash going directly into people’s hands, the savings will appear as a credit on your bill or prepay meter.
Blackpool Council stipulate that households of one or two people can get a £200 payment.
Households of three or more can claim up to £300.
To further meet the scheme in Blackpool, you must be a Blackpool resident who is over the age of 16 and responsible for the household’s utility bills.
You must also be experiencing financial hardship, but you won’t need to be receiving a universal credit payment or any other DWP benefit.
When applying, you will need to send a copy of your gas bill which clearly shows your name, address, provider and account number.
Blackpool Council have also warned that applications submitted without evidence will automatically be rejected.
The Household Support Fund was due to end on September 30, 2024.
But, it has been extended for an additional six months, until March 31, 2025, after another £421million was allocated to the scheme.
To find out what financial support your local council is offering to tackle the cost of living crisis, you can visit the application website and search for your area.
THE SUN’S MONEY-SAVING TIPS
The Sun has laid out ways to save money this winter, as heating costs rise and bills add up after the expensive Christmas season.
If you have health goals for 2025, skip pricey gym subscriptions and jog on with these tips on keeping costs down.
Download free running apps such as Strava, Couch To 5K or Nike Run Club to track your routes and create tailored training sessions.
The guided runs on the Nike app are brilliant motivators.
Just connect with your music-streaming service to play your favourite tunes.
With this, a running coach will drop into your playlist with encouragement and tips.
Winter also means running low light, but there’s no need to buy pricey reflective gear.
Rather than buying new items, stick cheap reflective patches (£2.99, amazon.co.uk), on your existing clothing.
Or invest in inexpensive snap bands.
Comfort is also a thing to keep in mind when going on long routes in cold weather.
Good running shoes are essential, but you don’t need to splash out on new ones.
Look for second-hand pairs on resale platforms including eBay, Vinted or Thrift.plus.
Just make sure they are lightly worn and the cushioning is intact.