FOOD BOOST
Struggling families can apply for free £240 supermarket vouchers in days – full list of retailers you can spend them
Find out more about the Government scheme in our video
HARD-UP families can apply for free supermarket vouchers worth £240 and spend them at six major chains.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund which is worth £421million to councils in England.
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The fund is a central pot of money that has been distributed to local authorities who then decide who to offer help to.
Each council has been given a different amount of funding to share between residents in need.
Town hall chiefs get to decide what type of help to offer too, whether that be cash grants or vouchers.
Plymouth Council, in Devon, is handing out a whole host of help to struggling households through Citizens Advice Plymouth.
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You need to prove you are experiencing financial difficulty and live in Plymouth to qualify, plus you won't if you have received help from the Household Support Fund before.
Eligible households can get up to £200 in voucher codes or credit to cover energy bills.
Others qualify for help covering the costs of white goods like fridges and washing machines, other furniture and clothes.
You can also apply for supermarket vouchers worth £240 to cover the cost of daily essentials.
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The vouchers can be used at: Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi or Iceland.
Citizens Advice Plymouth is distributing all the help to residents in a staggered approach.
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Pensioner households can no longer apply for the latest round of support.
But struggling families housing children under 18 can apply for help between 10am, November 18 and 4pm, November 22.
Application windows for those with disabilities or health conditions and single households getting help with housing costs will open from November 25 and December 2, respectively.
Anyone eligible for help can apply through Citizens Advice Plymouth's website.
You can also call to get help with the application process by calling 01752 982889.
Citizens Advice Plymouth says it is aiming to process applications within eight weeks.
What to do if you live outside Plymouth
You may be eligible for help if you live outside Plymouth, but it depends on where you're based.
There is no set eligibility criteria for the Household Support Fund with the Government guidance stating funding is aimed at anyone who is vulnerable or struggling to pay for essentials.
This means you might be eligible for help if you are on a low income or benefits like Universal Credit.
The best thing to do is contact your local council, which you can find via www.gov.uk/find-local-council, and it will tell you if you can get help.
Derby City Council is handing out supermarket vouchers worth £125 to households in need.
Meanwhile, Darlington Council is distributing food vouchers worth £100 to families.
Other help on offer
If you don't qualify for help through the Household Support Fund you might be eligible for other support.
You might be able to get a grant if you're struggling to cover energy bills, with some of the major suppliers offering them.
British Gas, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all have schemes where you can get free money towards bills.
Eligibility criteria varies for each scheme though so you should get in touch with your firm to find out more.
If you're on a low income, it's worth checking if you qualify for benefits which could boost your income by thousands of pounds a year.
There are three free-to-use benefits calculators on the Government's website which tell you what benefits you might be able to claim:
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You could try speaking to a local benefits adviser as well, via .
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date.
Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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