Thousands of households can get up to £160 free cash paid direct into bank account – how to claim
THOUSANDS of households can get up to £160 free cash paid direct into their bank account – we reveal how to apply.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842million.
The money has come from the Government which has distributed it among councils in England.
They then decide how to share their portion of the fund.
That means what you can get depends on where you live, but in most cases help is offered to those on a low income or benefits.
The type of support on offer varies as well – some local authorities are offering out food or utility bill vouchers while others are making bank transfers.
You might even get help buying white goods such as fridges and washing machines.
Cheshire East Council is offering thousands of households help worth up to £160.
The local authority has been given a £4.4million share of the £842million total pot.
Eligible residents can get supermarket vouchers, cash for energy vouchers, help with boiler repairs or replacements and renters can get help with housing costs.
The council is automatically distributing £160 of supermarket vouchers to eligible families via nurseries, schools or colleges.
Households should have already received £40 following the Easter 2023 holidays.
They will also receive £80 in advance of the summer holidays and £40 before the Christmas half term.
Young people and their families might be entitled to extra help too, through supermarket vouchers worth £20 for each child and £100 energy vouchers for each household.
But you will only get the additional help if you are referred by someone such as a support worker or Citizen’s Advice employee.
Adults who have a Cheshire East Corporate Appointeeship will receive £160 in October or November this year.
The £160 payment will be made directly into eligible people’s bank accounts.
Meanwhile, pensioners who receive Council Tax Support will automatically get a £160 Post Office voucher in October or November. The voucher can be exchanged for cash.
Eligible pensioners will receive a letter from the Post Office with a reference barcode included.
Details on how to redeem the funds will be included within the letter.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Cheshire East?
Yes you can. But what you can get depends on where you live as each council has been given a unique share of the £842million pot.
For example, households in Torridge are in line for payments worth up to £1,000.
The application process varies from area to area too.
The best thing to do is contact your local council to see what help is on offer and if you have to take any action.
You can do this by using the Government’s locator tool found on its website.
But you might want to be quick as competition for the fund is fierce and once a council has depleted its share, there’s no more left.
That said, the Household Support Fund has been extended multiple times since it was first launched in October 2021 so it might be extended again when the current batch closes, in March 2024.
What other help is on offer?
Beyond the Household Support Fund there are three cost of living payments being issued by the Government between now and spring 2024.
They are worth £900, £150-£300 and £150 and eligibility for each is different.
The £900 payment has been split into three instalments of £301, £300 and £299 and is being made to those who receive the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension credit
The first instalment should be paid to over eight million eligible people by May 17.
The second and third are being paid this autumn and in Spring 2024, repsectively.
Meanwhile, the £150-£300 payment is being made to millions of pensioners who qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment. It will be paid this winter.
Plus, millions of people with disabilities will receive a £150 payment into their bank accounts this summer.
That’s not all. There’s a whole host of freebies available to you if you are on certain benefits, including Universal Credit.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk