Thousands of households can get free £500 cost of living help in the New Year
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Thousands of struggling households can get free help worth £500 to pay off water and energy debts. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is awarding grants as part of the Household Support Fund. The Household Support Fund is a scheme that allows local councils to award specific help to residents who are behind on bills, or on low incomes.
It is down to each local authority to decide what support to give, and who gets it, which means many households face a postcode lottery when it comes to what help is available. For example, you may be awarded cash payments that don't need to be paid back, or vouchers for food or energy.
In order to receive help from Solihull Council, you must live in Solihull, 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.
This includes the state pension, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.
If you're eligible, you could get fuel vouchers worth up to £147, help to write off up to £500 in energy or water debt, free, essential white goods, plus blankets, quilts and warm clothing and emergency portable heaters. Application for the scheme will reopen in early January. You can find out more by visiting actonenergy.org.uk/support/hsf-sol. The Household Support Fund was due to end on September 30, 2024 but it has been extended for an additional six months, until March 31, 2025, after another £421million was allocated to the scheme.
