Thousands of households to receive cost of living free cash worth up to £290 direct to bank accounts – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of households can get a £290 cost of living payment to help with key household bills.
The cash support 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 Brits in need.
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 must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.
For example, thousands of residents in Doncaster could be eligible for a £290 cash grant.
The City of Doncaster Council has decided to use the funding to provide help to working-age and pensioner households in Doncaster who receive any of the following benefits:
- Housing benefit
- Local council tax reduction,
- Universal Credit which includes the housing element
- Means-tested free school meals
Payment will be made to eligible households as follows:
- Single people with no dependent children will receive a single payment of £50
- couples with no dependent children will receive a single payment of £70
- Households with one dependent child will receive a total of £110 from the scheme, this will be split into two payments of £55 each.
- Households with two dependent children will receive a total of £170 from the scheme, this will be split into two payments of £85 each.
- Households with three dependent children will receive a total of £230 from the scheme, this will be split into two payments of £115 each.
- Households with four or more dependent children will receive a total of £290 from the scheme, this will be split into two payments of £145 each.
A dependent child is a child in receipt of child benefit.
Individuals who’ve previously received a payment under the council’s scheme will be paid automatically.
If you are a pensioner or a working-age person who did not receive a payment under the previous Household Support Fund and meet the above criteria, you will have to submit an online application.
To claim Household Support Fund payment, visit www.doncaster.gov.uk/services/council-tax-benefits/household-support-fund
Applications will close Friday, August 30, at 5pm.
Payment will be made directly into your bank account using the information you previously provided.
You only need to contact the council if your bank account has changed since your previous award.
To do this, email householdsupportfund@doncaster.gov.uk and provide your name, National Insurance number, address, new bank sort code, account number, and the name of the account holder.
Payment to households that include dependent children will be made in two separate instalments.
The first payment is due after June 7, 2024 and the second payment will be made by August 9, 2024.
Payment to households with no dependant children will be made by a single payment into your account from the end of June onwards.
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 £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 if I don’t live in Doncaster?
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.
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?
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.
Middlesborough is awarding hard-up families up to £70.
Rutland County Council will provide one payment of £200 to care leavers this month.
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 £2,000.
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.