Thousands of households can get free £200 cash payment direct into their accounts to help with bills – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of people are eligible to get a free £200 cash payment straight into their bank accounts to help out with bills.
The financial support, which can be claimed to help with energy and food bills, is available through the government’s Household Support Fund.
The scheme works by handing councils up and down the country a slice of funding available to dish out to those struggling with the cost of living.
Each local authority gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.
The voucher or grant amounts vary by location, so you need to check to see what you are eligible for and how your council will pay you.
Residents in Newcastle who are facing “significant financial difficulty” can get as much as £200.
The authority warns though that funds are limited.
If you meet the criteria (see the box below) a member of the Advice Compact can submit a referral to the fund for you.
Residents cannot self refer.
If you live in the area you can find out more information about eligibility here.
The funding is used to support residents between April 2024 and September 2024.
Free school meal vouchers for school holidays are also part of the scheme.
Anyone needing extra support to help with the cost of living can contact Newcastle Council’s Welfare and Wellbeing Team.
What if I don’t live in Newcastle?
To get the help, you’ll need to check with your council – as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you’ve found your council, there should be information on how to apply 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.
What's the criteria for Newcastle residents?
To be eligible for a one off £200 payment from the Household Support Fund (HSF) you must:
- be a resident in Newcastle upon Tyne, and
- be the main householder (i.e. responsible for the household bills), and
- have a deficit in their budget (i.e. have more money going out than coming in), and
- seek advice from one of our Advice Compact partners to address the issues causing the deficit in budget.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary.
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 it’s best to ring them up and ask for more information.
What are other councils offering?
Thousands of residents in the London borough of Brent are lined up to receive £500.
Residents in Blackpool can receive up to £300 in support from the Household Support Fund.
Those living in Bracknell Forest could be eligible for a £315 cash grant.
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
Those living in Falkirk in receipt of a council tax reduction, housing benefit, Universal Credit, income support, jobseekers allowance or pension credit can apply for up to £470 in cash support.
Middlesbrough is awarding hard-up families up to £70.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.