Thousands of struggling households can claim up to £500 free cash and supermarket vouchers – full list of help available

THOUSANDS of struggling households can claim up to £500 free cash to help with essential bills.

The support is provided through the Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme, which has been extended until September 2024.

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Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.

Households could get supermarket vouchers or cash grants worth up to £500.

But the exact amount you can get will depend on where you live, so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.

Some councils will make payouts automatically and others will require you to fill in an application form.

You’ll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.

We’ve listed what’s on offer from ten different councils right now.

Plus, we’ve explained if you need to apply for the support.

Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council has secured a further £4.5 million pounds from the DWP.

Some of the funding will be used to provide one-off cash payments to low-income households.

These payments will be made automatically by the end of June 2024.
You do not need to apply.

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

Find out more by visiting www.cornwall.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/household-support-fund.

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

All applications for support need to be made online by visiting www.coventry.gov.uk/householdsupportfund.

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.

Eligible families will receive either an email or letter from Blackhawk with a 16-digit, personalised code and instructions to redeem the vouchers by visiting ealingcouncil.select-your-reward.co.uk. 

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

There is no need to apply and low-income children and pensioners will receive their shopping vouchers or payments

Find out more by visiting www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20127/benefits_and_grants/1086/household_support_fund.

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.

All applicants must make an application by phone on 01432 383838, or by completing an online application form on the council’s website.

Find out more about the Fuel Poverty Fund by visiting www.herefordshirecf.org/funds/household-support-fund.

Application for the £250 grant can be submitted at www.herefordshire.gov.uk/family-support/support-emergency-welfare-support/3

Medway Council

Medway Council is supporting residents by offering them supermarket vouchers, school uniform vouchers and energy cards.

Households may also be referred on for vouchers to cover energy costs.

The supermarket voucher values vary depending on your circumstances. This is how much you could get:

• £65 for single-person households
• £85 for households with two people
• £115 for households with three people
• £155 for households with four people
• £190 for households with five people
• £225 for households with six or more people

School uniform vouchers are worth £100 for every school age child.

Meanwhile, households who pay for their energy through a prepayment meter will be referred to the Fuel Bank Foundation who will give them a voucher worth £36.

Residents may also receive an electronic energy card worth £100 or an e-voucher worth £100 to pay for water bills.

The supermarket vouchers will be emailed to people which can then be used to claim digital gift codes.

You can find out more by visiting www.medway.gov.uk/info/200131/council_tax_and_benefits/1481/household_support_fund

Nottinghamshire Council

Thousands of £100 one-off payments are expected to receive them later this summer.

Residents in the area may also qualify for additional support if they meet extra requirements. 

Approximately £1.55million will be distributed to households with children in receipt of free school meals, or with children five or under with an equivalent eligibility. 

Another £1.55million will be shared amongst 15,500 households where one or more person receives or is eligible for Pension Credit.

Around £250,000 will be used as discretionary housing payments to help those at risk of being homeless.

The council has said £75,000 of the funds will be invested into Citizens Advice to help it continue its essential advice and support service for residents across the county.

Another £1.55million is to be shared among any other households impacted by rising costs, particularly those who may not be eligible for other government support, plus an additional £300,000 is being set aside to help buy white goods live ovens or fridges. 

Applications for this share of the funds will be determined by front-line workers such as housing officers or social workers. 

Families in receipt of free school meals or Pension Credit will be contacted directly by the county council with details of how to apply for a seasonal payment. 

Front-line workers will help identify other households most in need via a referral process.

You can find out more by visiting www.nottscc.gov.uk/householdsupportfund.

Wakefield Council

Wakefield Council will use its HSF funding in the following ways:

• £75 supermarket voucher for low income pensioners in receipt of council tax support
• £75 supermarket voucher for disabled residents in receipt of council tax support
• £75 supermarket voucher for low income families in receipt of council tax support
• £75 supermarket voucher for low income pensioners in receipt of council tax support

Eligible households do not need to apply for these vouchers. They will be issued automatically.

Find out more by visiting www.wakefield.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/household-support-fund.

Warrington Borough Council

The following cash grants are on offer through Warrington’s HSF scheme:

• £90 payment for parents whose children are in receipt of free school meals and are claiming a qualifying benefit
• £90 payment for households claiming council tax support or housing benefit
• £90 payment for pensioners in receipt of pension credit, council tax support or housing benefit

Households can choose to receive their payments directly into their bank account (by BACS transfer), or you can choose to receive their payments electronically or through paper vouchers.

You can apply by visiting www.warrington.gov.uk/hsf.

Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council

Cash-strapped residents in Windsor and Maidenhead can get money to go towards food and energy costs.

If you’re grappling with food spending, rent or to keep the lights on, you can get £145 in cash.

The council has teamed up with charity partners to decide who is in need of the help.

To apply locals will have to get in touch with one of the :

• Abri
• Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB)
• Housing Solutions
• RBWM Housing Service
• Age Concern Windsor
• West Windsor Hub (WWH)
• Baby Bank
• Maidenhead Foodshare
• Windsor Foodshare
• NHS Frimley social prescribing service
• Maidenhead United FC Community Trust
• Optalis
• Achieving for Children

You’ll be sent a unique reference number and a link to an online application form if you are eligible.

The payment will be made via bank transfer and should be sent within five working days once your application has been accepted.

But users are urged to be quick as it is on a first-come and first-served basis.

You have until September 30 to apply or until the cash runs dry.

Find out more by visiting www.rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/household-support-fund.