Cost of living payments worth up to £100 are available for hard-up families to help with food and fuel
HARD-UP households can apply for cost of living payments worth £100 to help with food and fuel costs.
Cash-strapped families and individuals can get access to the money through the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF).
The aid was set up in 2021, however, it has been extended by the UK government a number of times.
How much you are eligible for is usually based on what benefits you already receive and your financial circumstances.
The pot of cash is handed out by local councils and it varies from area to area.
In Kent, struggling households can now apply for vouchers to the value of £100 which can be redeemed towards food, energy or both.
To get access to the support locals must be aged over 16, living in Kent and are in receipt of means tested benefits, or your household income is less than £40,000 per annum before tax.
Households must also not receive free school meals voucher support from their child’s school over the school holidays or children within their household.
If you qualify, you will receive a £100 e-voucher which will be sent via email.
You can then use this e-voucher towards food or energy costs at supermarkets or your energy provider.
Households keen to apply, can do so by visiting www.kent.gov.uk.
If you are worried you do not meet the criteria but think you could be eligible for support, it may be worth ringing up the local council.
This is to check if you are missing out on benefits you could be entitled to.
WHAT IF I DON’T LIVE IN KENT?
What you can get depends on where you live and what support is available.
Each local council receives a portion of the £421million fund, which is then distributed to residents based on need.
Some councils may provide direct cash payments, while others issue vouchers to help cover essentials like energy or food.
How the money is distributed will vary, so it’s important to check with your local authority.
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.
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.