Low income households have just days left to see if they're eligible to claim a one-off £100 payment. You have to be a resident of Calderdale Council to potentially claim the support. The help is being awarded via the Household Support Fund scheme, which is funded by the by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) The type of help that can be offered through the scheme, and who exactly is eligible, varies between councils.
For example, you may be awarded cash payments that don't need to be paid back, or vouchers for food or energy. The help on offer is typically available to low income or pensioner households, or those who have children. Calderdale Council is issuing payments of up to £100 to households that currently receive Council Tax Reduction based on their income.
Households with children will be awarded £100, as will households with a known disability. If you live in a households with children and a known disability, you will only receive one payment of £100. If you live in a household with no children, or no known disability, the payment is £50. The closing date for this is February 28.
You can also apply to the discretionary scheme, which is worth up to £100, if you pay council tax or energy bills at a Calderdale address. You must provide your last two bank statements for yourself and your partner. The closing date for the discretionary scheme is March 31.
If you're not a Calderdale resident, it is worth checking the website of your local council to see what help it could potentially offer you. For example, people living in Solihull can get free help worth £500 to pay off water and energy debts. You need to have a combined annual household income of under £31,000, have no household savings, except for if you're a pensioner, then you can have up to £5,000 in savings. You must have someone living in the household with a vulnerability and be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Rotherham residents can get £250 support this winter. To qualify, you must have no more than £150 remaining each month after covering essential expenses like food, rent or mortgage, and utility bills. The funding is not means-tested but only one application can be made per household.
Blackpool Council will be giving payments of up to £300 to households who are struggling to cover energy or water costs. The money will be paid directly to your supplier and will appear as a credit on your bill or prepay meter. Check your local council to see what support you may be entitled to.
