Thousands of pensioners to get £200 cost of living payment within weeks – see what you can claim NOW
THOUSANDS of pensioners are set to get cost of living payments worth £200 within weeks.
Hard-up retirees are set to receive the payment through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The aid was set up in 2021 but has been extended a number of times by the government as households struggle to keep on top of rising costs.
It is paid out by local councils and is not exclusive for pensioners to claim.
However, cuts to the £300 Winter Fuel Payment have meant many older people have begun to turn to the aid for extra support.
In East Riding, low-income pensioners, disabled people, care leavers and those who are financially in crisis can claim £200 worth of cost-of-living support.
To meet the criteria the following must apply:
- Be an East Riding resident and in receipt of housing benefit, housing element of universal credit or council tax support
- Be in receipt of a means-tested benefit and have been continuously for a minimum of three months
- Applicant and partner not in employment
- Have less than £1000 in savings
- Not received financial support from the Household Support Fund during the period April 1 2024 to September 30 2024
- Not receiving targeted financial support from the current Household Support Fund.
The local council will pay £200 to eligible households which they can then use for food or energy support.
East Riding Council opened the scheme for applicants in October, and payments will be made until March 2025.
If your claim is successful then you should receive the payment in 20 days.
To apply for the fund you can visit www.eryc.link/fund.
Alternatively, if you do not have access to the internet you can ring the following number, (01482) 393939.
What if I don’t live in East Riding?
It is not only households in East Riding that have access to the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The government has promised to pump a further £1billion into the fund over 2025 and 2026.
This is on top of the £421million top-up up which was announced in September and saw the scheme extended until March 2025.
Some examples of what other councils are doing include Rotherham Council, which is now offering struggling families £250 grants to fight the cost of living.
Rotherham Council says to qualify for the grant, residents must have no more than £150 remaining each month after covering essential expenses like food, rent or mortgage and utility bills.
You do not need to be on benefits to apply for the fund.
How to know if you qualify?
Financial support available to struggling households varies from council to council, so it is worth checking what schemes your local council offers to ensure you get all the support you need.
The benefits you already receive will not be impacted by applying for the HSF.
And, you do not necessarily need to receive benefits in the first place to get vouchers or funds from the HSF.
To get the help, you’ll need to check with your council – as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
Information on how to apply for the funding should be published on your council’s website. Each council will have a different application process.
If there’s no information on your council’s website, then it’s best to ring them up and ask for more information.
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low-income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
And don’t delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date.
Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it’s crucial you apply as soon as possible.