Thousands of families can claim free cash payments worth up to £190 from this spring – how to apply
STRUGGLING households can get a vital cash boost of £190 to help ease the cost of living pressure.
The government's Household Support Fund provides money - that never needs to be paid back - to families with vulnerable budgets.
The cash is handed out through local councils. Authorities in Warrington are now one of the latest to reveal how payments will be distributed over the 2023/24 financial year to residents in the community.
The council said the first payment through the scheme will be made to cover the Easter holidays with regular instalments scheduled for the coming 12 months.
How much can you get?
Each eligible recipient will receive a minimum of £190 over the year thanks to the payments, according to information released by Warrington Borough Council.
After the Easter payment worth £20, another £20 payment will come at the end of May.
Read more on the Household Support Fund
There will then be two £25 payments to bookend the start and finish of the school summer holidays.
Recipients will also get £20 in October to align with half term.
There is a bumper payment of £40 for Christmas, followed by a £20 payment for February half term.
A £20 payment is finally scheduled for Easter 2024.
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Who can get the payments?
Warrington Borough Council is targeting help towards three specific groups of people living in the area: Those on the lowest incomes, parents with children and pensioners.
Carers and people with disabilities have also been encouraged to apply if they meet the criteria.
To qualify, individuals must fall into one of the following categories:
- Parent of a child who receives free school meals and claim a qualifying benefit
- Receive council tax support or housing benefit in the current financial year
- Pensioner who receives either pensioner credit (savings credit or guarantee credit) or council tax support or housing benefit
How to apply
Anyone who received Household Support Fund payments from Warrington Borough Council during the winter of 2022/23 does not need to reapply.
New applicants will need to fill out an online form at Warrington.gov.uk/hsf. You can email [email protected] if you are having problems with the form.
How to get cash help if you don't live in Warrington
It's not only Warrington council providing cash payments through the Household Support Fund to households whose finances are under pressure.
In fact, councils across England can acceess the £500million of funding to help local families who are struggling.
The help on offer varies depending on where you live - you will need to contact your local council to find out what is on offer and whether you qualify.
For example, In North Yorkshire thousands of locals received electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.
Buckinghamshire Council have also extended their support after receiving £4.8million for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
And residents in North Norfolk District Council are also set to get a fourth round of the HSF from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
The payments are designed to help the least well-off households, so you will usually have to show you are in receipt of some benefits to qualify.
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Some councils will also earmark locals eligible for funding and contact them directly.
However, if you need help and haven't heard anything it's worth ringing to check if you could qualify for this cash lifeline.