Households can get a free cash payment of up to £200 to help with the cost of living. The help comes from the Household Support Fund, a government-funded scheme - run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - that has given local councils pots of cash to support struggling households in their area. Each authority decides how it wants to spend the money, and help can range from free cash payments to supermarket vouchers.
Islington Council in London was allocated £2.2million worth of funding, which would cover the scheme from October 1 until March 31, 2025. In this round, Islington Council is providing support to households to people with caring responsibilities. The council says this is because they often have more heating, water or transport costs or have given up paid work to care for someone. Eligible households can claim a one-off payment of £200 to help with living costs, and to get it you will need to make an application online through the council's website. If this application is accepted, then you will receive a letter which you can take to your local post office to receive the money.
To be eligible, you must live in Islington as your main and permanent address, be a recognised carer, and receive one or more of the following:. The council will use DWP data and other systems to check that you receive at least one of the carer's benefits. Islington Council says that once you have submitted your application, it could take up to 21 days before they can give you a decision. During this time, you should not make another application. You will be informed of the decision in the letter, and even if you are not successful, the council will write to you and tell you why. The council assesses applications in the order they get them, so it runs on a "first come, first served" basis.
Funding is limited, so there will be one award per household, and awards will go to those who meet the eligibility criteria. The support fund will close on March 31, 2025, or if they have received enough applications - whatever comes first. The Household Support Fund is due to end on March 31, 2025, after the Labour government extended it last year with an extra £421million in funding. If you're not an Islington resident, it is worth checking your local council's website to see what help it could potentially offer you before the scheme closes.
