PEOPLE struggling to pay bills are being given a last chance to claim free cash. Hard-up households can get help through the Household Support Fund (HSF). The pot of cash worth millions of pounds is being dished out by local councils to individuals in each area, meaning what you can get varies depending on location. Residents in North Yorkshire have been handed vouchers to spend at nine leading supermarkets - but have just hours left to claim them on the council's website.
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Those eligible are being warned they only have until the end of today (February 13) to claim the free food support. The council says the selected households received an e-voucher for £150 and details were sent in the post before January 21, 2025. The nine stores within the scheme are Farmfoods, Iceland, Tesco, Aldi, Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. According to the council, eligible households are those who receive the maximum discount on their council tax payments through the means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
To check if you qualify for the scheme in North Yorkshire, you can do a check on their website: ww.northyorks.gov.uk/benefits/household-support-fund. However the council says every eligible household will have already been contacted. Council funded support has been offered across the UK in the form of free cash payments, energy support, supermarket vouchers and discounts. The Household Support Fund offers short term help towards food and fuel has been handed out since the cost of living crisis began.
The council backed scheme varies in each constituency so those wanting to know whether they could be eligible for the additional support should check the relevant site. Each local council receives a portion of the £421million fund, which is then distributed to residents based on need. Some councils may provide direct cash payments, while others issue vouchers to help cover essentials like energy or food.
How the money is distributed will vary, so it's important to check with your local authority. For instance, Rotherham Council is now offering struggling families £250 grants to fight the cost of living. You do not need to be on benefits to apply for the fund. St Helens Borough Council in Merseyside is offering support with essential bills. Low-income families can apply for support with fuel, food and other living expenses, including utility debts, as well as help with the cost of purchasing furniture or white goods.
Direct payments of £200, or £300 for over 80s, will also be made to pensioners who are not eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment, but receive Housing Benefit or a Council Tax reduction. 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. Coventry Council is also offering energy grants of up to £120 for single people or childless couples, and £160 for families. Meanwhile Medway Council is also providing help. It will give electronic energy cards to the value of £100 to those in demonstrable hardship, with less than £500 in their bank accounts.
Milton Keynes City Council is also among those offering energy vouchers to struggling households. The council said it will assess applicants on a "case by case" basis, but people who are just missing out on the winter fuel payment will receive help worth up to £300. In October last year, the government extended the wider scheme for the sixth time. Releasing £421million to be distributed among councils, payments vary by which area you live in.
