PAY DAY
Thousands of households can apply for a £300 cost of living payment to help cover energy and water costs
Eligible applicants will be entitled to help with electricity, gas, water, oil, LPG and Solid Fuel
THOUSANDS of households can apply for a £300 cost of living payment to help cover essential bills - find out if you're eligible.
The helping hand could be a lifeline for families suffering financial hardship.
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It comes as From April 2024 to September 2024, the Department of Work and Pensions is providing more funding through the Household Support Fund, HSF.
The scheme is now available to Worcestershire residents on behalf of the council and administered by Act on Energy.
Eligible applicants will be entitled to help with electricity, gas, water, oil, LPG and Solid Fuel.
Households with children under the age of 18, or young adults up to the age of 21 in full time education can be awarded up to £500.
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Meanwhile, adult only residents, aged between 18 and 66 can be entitled to up to £300.
And, single adult households, or a couple of pensionable age could also see £300 go towards their bills.
They scheme is also helping people apply for help with repairing, servicing, or replacing their heating system.
This could include, but is not limited to, boiler repairs, installation of first time heating systems, replacement of broken warm air systems, and services.
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WHO CAN APPLY?
This scheme is only available to Worcestershire residents who live in Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon, Bromsgrove, Redditch, or Wyre Forest.
Applicants must have, before tax, an overall gross household income of £31,000 or less a year, including non-means tested benefits.
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They must also have no household savings, with the exception of £5,000 for each household occupier of state pension age.
Or, residents who apply must receive means-tested benefits which include;
- Attendance Allowance
- Carers Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Health Allowance (included within your Universal Credit breakdown)
Or, engaging with one of the following support services:
- Accommodation/Homelessness support
- Addiction Support
- Carers Support
- Children & Families Support
- Debt Management Support
- Domestic Abuse Support
- Education/School Support
- Local Welfare Provision Support
- Disability Support
- Older Adults Support
- Employment Support
- Food Bank/Food Provision Support
- Immigration/Refugee support
- Mental Health/Counselling Support
Or have been engaged with any of the following advice or support services in the last calendar month:
- Citizens Advice
- Age UK
- StepChange or a national debt support or advice service
- Community Centre
- Local Charity
- Your GP Social Prescribing Team
- Worcestershire County Council Adult Front Door Team
- Long-term diagnosed health condition or registered disabled
- A household of state pension age
- A household with young children of pre-school age (4years old or under)
What is the Household Support Fund?
Households in need can claim support to help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund.
The funding is supplied from a £421million pot by the Department for Work and Pensions.
It was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times.
Councils up and down the country get a portion of the cash to allocate to vulnerable households.
For example, Medway Council in Kent, South-East England, is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.
Some could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100 too.
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.
The help you can get varies depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or to cover costs of your weekly grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
And, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.
How do I apply?
Once you've found your council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding on its website.
Each council will have a different application process - so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary - it's best to check with your local council for more details.
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Some councils won't require you to apply for the help and they'll contact you about it instead if you qualify.
If there's no information on your council's website, then its best to ring them up and ask for more information.
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.
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