Thousands of hard-up families can apply for hundreds of pounds worth of support to help with living costs while household bills remain high.
The support is distributed by local councils through the Household Support Fund, which is a scheme that was launched in 2021 and has since been extended to help with the cost of living crisis.
Every council receives a portion of the fund, which then decides how the money will be spent to meet the needs of their local communities.
This means Household Support Fund schemes vary across the country, and people can use the official postcode checker to find out what services their local council is currently offering and how it is providing them.
The fund is typically aimed at low-income families and support can range from hundreds of pounds worth of food vouchers to energy bill support.
West Devon Borough Council is currently offering eligible residents in its constituency with payments worth up to £400.
The payment will be made in two instalments and will land directly in bank accounts. This will comprise £150 between now and the end of summer and a further payment worth £250 in December.
Families who have not had any previous support from Government funding, such as cost of living payments, can qualify if they also meet one of the following criteria:
- Are single-income households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction
- Have caring responsibilities, receive Council Tax Reduction and Carers Allowance
- Receive a War Disablement Pension (on August 1, 2023).
Those who fall into more than one category will still only be eligible for one payment.
People who don’t live in West Devon can find out what support is available near them by checking their local council website.
For examples of other council funds, Barnsley will be distributing £301 cost of living payments in Autumn to those who receive Housing Benefits but do not qualify for the Government’s wider cost of living payment scheme.
Birmingham City Council is distributing grants of up to £200 to households facing financial hardship.
The funds are intended to help with food and energy costs and applications are open now.
The City of York Council is offering households two payments of £185 to help with food, energy and water bills, while residents in Harrow can apply for up to £200 worth of food vouchers if they meet the criteria.
