CASH IN
Exact date in days thousands of households must apply for cost of living cash worth £220 – are you eligible for help?
Find out if you're eligible for support and how you can apply
THOUSANDS of households have just days left to apply for £220 cost of living cash.
Hard-up families can claim the cash via the government's Household Support Fund (HSF).
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The HSF offers help to struggling households and has been extended several times since it was introduced by the Government in 2021.
Funding is given to local councils to distribute, so the support available varies across the country.
What you can get depends on where you live but the money could be paid out as a direct cash transfer or shopping vouchers.
Households in Cambridgeshire in need of support can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
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Even better, residents can apply twice for support between 1 April and September 30 this year, meaning each household could be in line to receive as much as £220.
The funds can be paid in a lump sum of £110 into your bank account, or split between different types of vouchers.
East Cambridgeshire District Council today issued a warning to remind people to apply.
The local body tweeted: "If you would like advice and support with applying for the Household Support Fund (HSF) please speak to us by Thursday 25 July, the fund will close to applications after 9am on Friday 26 July.
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"Call in to our drop-in sessions or call 01353 665555."
To be eligible residents will need to live in Cambridgeshire, have £16,000 or less in money, savings, and investments and income below a set threshold.
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The threshold is £24,876 before tax for a single adult, rising to £30,465 for the single parent of one child, £37,377 for the single parent of two children and £48,735 for a single parent of three or more children.
For couples without children the threshold is £34,494, rising to £36,123 for couples with one child, £42,418 for couples with two children and £54,572 for couples with three children or more.
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.
Who qualifies and the level of support given is a postcode lottery, as each local authority can set its own 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 can I find out what support is on offer?
The support provided varies from council to council, so its 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 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 need necessarily need to be in receipt of benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
How do you apply?
To get the help, you'll need to check with your council.
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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.
What council tax support is available?
THERE are several ways you can get discounts and reductions on your council tax bill.
In some cases, you can even get the bill completely wiped with a council tax reduction.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply, visit //www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
You'll need your National Insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
Below, we reveal all the ways you can get discounts or a reduction on your bill:
Single person discount
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn't have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you're struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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