HELPING HAND
One-off payments worth up to £200 going to thousands of households in weeks – will you get it?
Watch our video to check if you're missing out on extra support too
THOUSANDS of cash-strapped households could claim £200 in a one-off payment in just weeks.
The support is being provided by councils and is funded through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
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The scheme has been extended multiple times but the latest round covering April to September is worth a whopping £421million.
The pot of cash has been shared between councils in England which then have to decide how to distribute it.
That means what you are entitled to and whether you qualify depends on where you live.
However, help is usually offered to those on a low income, benefits, or who are classed as vulnerable - though not always.
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East Riding Council in Yorkshire was awarded £2.61million in the latest round of funding.
The local authority is putting the cash towards dishing out £200 payments to residents on low-incomes.
Those struggling with energy, water, food and grocery bills are being encouraged to apply.
Eligible households include families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people, larger families, single-person households, and those financially in crisis.
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Gill Barley, the council’s director of revenues and procurement, said: "This money is available right now to help our community and I would urge people to please check to see if they are eligible and apply online.
"We hope this money will make a difference as there are many people on low incomes in the East Riding who are having an extremely tough time.
"Please tell your friends and family about this fund because it may just help."
How to get the free £200
To apply for the £200 cash payment you must apply via www.eryc.link/fund.
The application form will be open until the end of August, and there can only be one application per household.
Successful applicants will receive their payment within 20 days of applying.
Those who don’t have access to the internet and want to make a claim can call the council on 01482 393939.
Not everyone has to apply though.
Those low-income working households and unpaid carers who previously applied between April 2023 and March 2024 and received an HSF payment don’t need to apply again.
Payments will automatically be paid to those who meet eligibility criteria and currently receiving council tax support.
Eligible households will receive the £200 payment by the end of July.
Also using the HSF cash, the council will also be supporting several local schemes and organisations helping people in need, including:
- Investing £1m towards the cost of providing free school meal vouchers during school holidays until October to those eligible in the East Riding,
- Giving Food banks in the area a share of £50,000.
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 help can I get if I don't live in East Riding?
The support provided varies from council to council, so it's worth checking the schemes your local council has in place to make sure you receive all the assistance available.
For example, Wakefield is handing out £75 supermarket vouchers to low-income pensioners families and disabled residents.
Warrington Borough Council is hanging out a £90 payment for households with children in receipt of free school meals, or claiming eligible benefits.
South Ribble Council in Lancashire is offering residents vouchers worth £350 which can be spent at a range of retailers.
Stockport Council is dishing out supermarket vouchers worth £105 to families struggling to pay for essentials.
The fund is paid per child, so, for example, any family with three children will receive vouchers totalling £315.
Hard-up families in North East Lincolnshire can claim supermarket vouchers worth £90 to cover the cost of food.
The vouchers can be used across a number of major retailers including Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons or Tesco.
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What's on offer from five different councils right now
Cornwall Council
Cornwall Council has secured a further £4.5million pounds from the DWP.
Here's what you can get:
- £80 payment to pensioners in receipt of pension credit
- £80 payment to adults assessed receiving care
- £80 payment per child for families receiving council tax support on June 3, 2024
- £80 payment per child for families living in emergency accommodation on June 3, 2024
Coventry City Council
Households who find themselves in financial difficulty can apply for a range of support:
- £120 to single people or childless couples to help with energy and water bills
- £140 to families to help with energy and water bills
- £25 worth of food parcels
- Household appliances and furniture
- £95 per adult and £60 per child in clothes vouchers
- £20 to single person or childless couple in toiletries vouches
- £30 to families in toiletries vouches
Ealing Council
Ealing has been allocated £2.6M to support low-income families between now and the end of September 2024.
All of the following supermarket vouchers will be provided by the council's partner, Blackhawk.
- £105 to families claiming benefits related free school meals in supermarket vouchers
- £105 to families with children under the age of five who get Housing Benefit or council tax reduction
- £105 to care leavers in supermarket vouchers
If you are eligible, you do not need to apply for the vouchers.
Hartlepool Borough Council
The majority of Hartlepool's HSF funding is targeted at children and pensioners in low-income households.
The funding is allocated to these two groups in the form of shopping vouchers for food or in some cases as a bank payment.
Eligible households could get:
- £60 shopping vouchers per child in receipt of free school meals
- £60 shopping vouchers to low-income pensioners
Herefordshire Council
Households in Herefordshire can get up to £500 depending on their circumstances and level of need.
The Council said it is available for "the most vulnerable households".
Eligible households could get access to the following:
- £500 cash grants through the Herefordshire Community Foundation Fuel Poverty Fund
- £250 cash grants for individuals that use 'high energy' use medical equipment
Parents may also be able to get a one-off emergency payment voucher of £75.
You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government's council locator tool on its website.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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