HELPING HAND
Thousands of households can apply for cost of living vouchers worth £150 – are you in line for help?
You can use the money to pay for shopping, bills or essentials like clothing and hygiene products
THOUSANDS of households are now eligible to apply for cost of living vouchers worth £150 to help with food, energy, water bills and other living costs.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421 million.
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The fund offers financial help to low-income households who can use the money to pay for their shopping, bills or essentials such as clothing and hygiene products.
It was first introduced by the Government in 2021 and since then, it has been extended several times.
Funding is given out to local councils to distribute to those most in need in their area, so the support available varies across the country and what you can get depends on where you live.
Bromley council has received funding, and you can now apply for a voucher worth £150.
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Payments will be received within fifteen working days of a successful application.
Applicants that meet the eligibility criteria can choose to receive either a £150 Virtual Payment Card via email, which can be used for online or over the phone payments, or a Sainsbury’s supermarket gift card to the value of £150 by post to use in-store.
To apply for support, you will need to be over the age of 16, a Bromley borough resident and have not already received an award from April 2024.
You also most have at least one of the following criteria.
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Be a carer, domestic abuse survivor, low-income household, pensioner, family with school age children, care leaver, household who considers themselves as having a disability, including dementia or a mental health condition or a household experiencing exceptional financial hardship.
In addition, you will need to be experiencing and able to provide evidence of either utility arrears, rent or mortgage arrears, council tax arrears or evidence of other significant financial hardship.
To apply for support, you will need to complete an online application, and provide evidence in support of your claim.
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Examples of supporting evidence include a statement or bill from your utility provider, a statement or letter from your landlord or mortgage lender, a council tax arrears letter, a bank statement for a full calendar month, or a debt collection agency letter.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The HSF was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times.
The latest round of funding is worth £421 million to councils in England so that they could help struggling household.
Who qualifies is a postcode lottery too, as each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.
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.
Can I get help if I don't live in Bromley?
The HSF was recently extended in the Government's Spring Budget until September and some councils have already opened for applications.
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.
In Cambridgeshire, residents in need of support can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
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.
You should 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.
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But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or cover the costs of your weekly grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
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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