Final day to apply for £200 lump sum payment to help with food, energy and water bills
Find out if you're eligible
TODAY is the final day to apply for a £200 lump sum payment to help with your food, energy and water bills.
Thousands of Brits could be missing out on the Household Support Fund as many don’t even realise they can claim it.
The HSF is a scheme set up by the Department for Work and Pensions to help those in need through the cost of living crisis.
The fund is administered by local councils and is allocated differently depending on where you live.
It was originally started in 2021 but has been extended five times since then.
In the latest round, councils in England have been given a collective £421 million to dish out.
The payments can be put towards bills for essentials like food, energy and water.
However, eligible households in the East Riding of Yorkshire only have hours left to get their applications in.
Some will have already received a £200 payment at the end of July as a result of their circumstances.
But others who were not sent the automatic sum can still qualify as long as they apply by today.
Those in a working household can apply can apply if:
- they are an East Riding resident (you receive a Council Tax bill from East Riding Of Yorkshire Council)
- they are working, but not in receipt of any benefits, and
- their income is below £28,000 per year for single households and under £33,000 per year for other households, and
- they have under £6,000 in savings or in a bank account.
There is also a set of criteria for households including at least one unpaid carer.
They must:
- be an East Riding resident
- be an unpaid adult carer who does not receive the carers allowance, and
- the person you care for receives a disability payment, and
- your income is below £28,000 per year for single households and under £33,000 per year for other households, and
- you have under £6,000 in savings or in a bank account
It is worth noting that if applicants are already receiving benefits, these won’t be affected by the payment.
The cut-off comes after The Sun exclusively revealed that millions of savers a paying up to £200 a year extra in “rip-off” fees.
Where is the HSF available?
Plymouth – up to £740
Plymouth City Council said eligible residents can receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers. This includes £240 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Aldi, or Iceland, and £200 in energy vouchers. It also includes an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers.
Blackpool – up to £300
Households with one or two people – including children – will see £200 paid directly to their energy provider. Those with three or more will get £300 paid towards their energy costs.
Middlesbrough – up to £70
People in the area who claim benefits and do not have children can apply for a £50 voucher. Those living alone will get up to £37.50 and couples will get £50. If there are children in your household, you’ll get a voucher for £70 per child.
Leicestershire – up to £300
Households in Leicestershire can apply for £300 per household, which will be paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food. The payment can be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.
Leeds – up to £100
Residents of Leeds who receive council tax support with dependent children can claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25. Eligible households will have received letters featuring a barcode that can then be taken to the post office along with ID to claim the cash.
Bracknell Forest – up to £315
Applicants could be eligible for a one-off £105 payment per child between now and September, if applicants meet the qualifying benefits.
Cambridgeshire County – up to £220
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household. Residents can apply twice for support between now and September 30, meaning each household could receive as much as £220. The funds can be paid in a lump sum of £110 or as vouchers.
Falkirk – up to £470
The amount residents can get under the HSF depends on the number of people in their household. A single adult will receive £110, with an additional £90 payment made for every further resident. For example, a couple with no dependent children would receive £200.
Stockport – up to £315
Stockport Council is giving out vouchers worth £105 to families struggling to pay for essentials. The fund is paid per child, so if you have three children you would be entitled to £315 worth of supermarket vouchers.