Exact date thousands must claim cost of living vouchers worth up to £75 by – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of hard-pressed families have just weeks to apply for vouchers worth up to £75 to help with the cost of living.
Struggling households can apply for support via the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, was first launched in 2021 but has been extended a number of times.
Funding is given to local councils to distribute, so the amount handed out varies across the country.
How much you can get also depends on where you live, but the sum should be paid as a direct bank transfer or on receipt of an electricity bill.
Applicants’ eligibility is usually based on their financial situation and how many benefits they receive.
It has been announced that households in Warwickshire that are in need of support can apply for a £75 voucher.
The one-off payment can be put towards immediate needs and help those who are finding it hard to afford energy and water costs.
Warwickshire County Council said families and households in the area can apply whether they use prepayment metres, pay by direct debit or on receipt of a gas, electricity or water bill.
Residents have also been invited to contact the Local Welfare Scheme team for a confidential discussion about their situation.
All applications for the payment must be made by July 5 2024.
Those eager to apply should be aware that anyone eligible for free school meals has automatically been offered this support so will not be eligible.
However, other households in financial difficulty have been encouraged to apply.
To be eligible, you will need to live in Warwickshire, be on a low income and have limited savings.
What other support is available?
The support provided varies from council to council, therefore it’s worth checking the schemes your local council has in place to make sure you receive all the assistance available.
For example, in Hertfordshire funds have also been made available to support households on low incomes facing immediate financial crisis, provide help with energy costs and support food banks.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
You don’t need to worry about additional support impacting existing benefits, as these will be unaffected by payments from the HSF.
And, you do not necessarily need to receive benefits to get vouchers or funds from the HSF.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times, to September 2024.
The latest round of funding is worth £421million to councils in England.
Local authorities have discretion on exactly how this funding is used within the scope of the guidance set by the Department for Work and Pensions.
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 Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
Who qualifies and the level of support given is a postcode lottery, as each local authority can set criteria for distributing the funds.
However, if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, are classed as vulnerable or are on benefits, you will likely qualify for help.
How do I apply?
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.
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