HELPING HAND
Millions to get cost of living payments this winter as government set to extend support
Find out if you're eligible for support and see how you can apply
MILLIONS of households are set to get extra cost of living payments this winter as the government looks to extend a major hardship fund.
The Household Support Fund (HSF), which provides Brits with cash grants to help with the cost of living, is due to end on September 30.
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However, ministers are set to announce that the funding for the scheme will be extended beyond this date, The Financial Times reports.
The scheme works by giving councils across the country a slice of funding to distribute to households most in need.
Each local authority gets a different proportion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.
Local councils can then set their eligibility requirements and distribute the funding how they please.
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Cash support is usually provided to low-income households via supermarket vouchers or cash grants.
Again, the exact amount you could be eligible for depends on where you live, but some households have received grants worth up to £500 in the past.
Councils sounded the alarm earlier this month amid fears that the HSF, which has run since October 2021, would not be extended again this winter.
According to the Local Government Association (LGA), over 80% of local authorities are braced for a significant increase in demand for the support in the coming months, but many will not be able to plug the shortfall.
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Just 1% of councils said they could match the funding available through the HSF when it expires, while just over two-thirds (67%) reported that local welfare funding administered by councils would decrease if the fund was withdrawn.
Pete Marland, chairman of the LGA's economy and resources board, said at the time: "The Household Support Fund is a vital safety net for vulnerable residents struggling with the cost of living, but is currently due to run out in a matter of weeks.
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"Services including grants for energy and food, supplying essential furniture and white goods, paying for energy efficiency improvements, funding food banks, offering food vouchers for children during school holidays and employment and financial advice are all at risk of being lost and irreplaceable."
The scheme's expected extension comes just weeks after Chancellor Rachel Reeves scrapped Winter Fuel Payments for over 10million pensioners.
Starting this winter, only those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will qualify for up to £300 in energy bill help.
A government spokesperson said: "This government will tackle the scar of poverty by making sure work pays and improving support to help people into good work.
"More details on the Household Support Fund will be set out in due course."
Households have weeks left to apply for cash support from their local authority under the current HSF scheme.
Grants worth up to £500 are still available, but you must apply by September 30.
Councils can still close their schemes before this deadline if all funds become allocated beforehand.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
How much can I get?
The exact amount of money available to you through the HSF scheme will depend on your council's criteria.
For example, low-income households in Bath and North East Somerset can get up to £500 in cash grants through its HSF funded Discretionary Crisis Fund.
Medway Council in Kent, South-East England, is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.
Some could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100 too.
In Cambridgeshire, residents in need of support can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
Even better, residents can apply twice for support between 1 April and September 30 this year, meaning each household could be in line to receive as much as £220.
The funds can be paid in a lump sum of £110 into your bank account, or split between different types of vouchers.
You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
How do you apply?
To get the help, you'll need to check with your council - as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
To find your local council, visit www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Once you've found your council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding on its website.
Each council will have a different application process - so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary - it's best to check with your local council for more details.
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Some councils won't require you to apply for the help and they'll contact you about it instead if you qualify.
If there's no information on your council's website, then its best to ring them up and ask for more information.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.