Just DAYS left for parents to apply for free food vouchers and cash worth up to £500
HOUSEHOLDS have just days left to get free food vouchers and cash worth up to £500.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF), a giant pool of money worth £421million.
The cash has been shared between councils in England who then have to distribute their share to hard-up residents.
That means what you are entitled to depends on where you live, although in most cases you will qualify for help if you’re on a low income or benefits.
The latest round runs until March 31, after which point it will be extended and run between April and March 2026.
While a lot of local authorities have allocated their share of the latest round of funding, some still haven’t and are offering a range of help.
Some are handing out free cash while others are distributing supermarket or energy vouchers.
Here are all the councils we could find still distributing support.
Bear in mind, your local council might still be handing out help even if they’re not in our list below.
So, if you’re on benefits like Universal Credit or have low savings or a income, speak to your council to see if any help is at hand.
You can find what council area you fall under by visiting www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Camden Council
Camden Council, in London, is still offering payments worth £500 to households struggling to pay for essentials.
The local authority also issued supermarket and Post Office vouchers worth up to £300 to residents in need through its latest round.
Camden Council says it is giving the £500 payments to people in an “emergency financial situation”.
The deadline to apply for the payments is March 31.
To apply, you need to register for the council’s Money Advice Service via www.camden.gov.uk/refer-yourself-for-money-advice-and-support or call 020 7974 4444.
Visit www.camden.gov.uk/hsf for more details.
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council is giving hard up households free cash payments worth up to £200.
The local authority is making the payments to those living in the area and experiencing “financial hardship”, particularly those struggling to cover the cost of food and energy.
You also can’t have received help via the HSF in the last 12 months.
For example, if you received a £200 payment on May 31, 2024, you cannot make another application until June 1, 2025.
The deadline to submit any applications is March 31, which can be done via www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50274/cost_of_living_support/2497/household_support_fund_2024_to_2025.
If your application is successful, you’ll be contacted within four weeks to complete the application process.
Ealing Council
Ealing Council, in west London, is distributing supermarket vouchers worth up to £100 to households in need.
Families with children in an Ealing school and qualifying for benefits-related free school meals are getting £30 per child.
That means those with three children are eligible for £90 worth of vouchers.
Families with children under the age of five on housing benefit and/or council tax reduction are eligible for £30 per household.
Meanwhile, care leavers are qualify for supermarket vouchers worth £100.
The vouchers will be sent automatically via email or letter from the council’s partner Blackhawk.
These will contain a 16-digit personalised code and instructions to redeem the vouchers.
You can find out more via www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201103/benefits_and_financial_support_3043/household_support_fund.
Woking Borough Council
Woking Borough Council is distributing supermarket vouchers worth £150 to households in need.
The councils says it prioritised applications from pensioner residents up until February 1.
However, between February 1 and now the fund is open to general applications from residents who are on a means-tested benefit and struggling with food or fuel costs.
You also can’t have received help from a previous round of the HSF.
You can find out more via www.woking.gov.uk/costofliving.
Westmoreland and Furness Council
Westmoreland and Furness Council is still accepting applications, but only until March 31.
Residents struggling to pay for food, energy bills or other essentials can apply.
Specifically, the council said anyone on a low income or without access to other financial support should get in touch.
The council is helping residents to cover the cost of white goods, furniture, carpets, clothing and more.
You an apply online via www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/household-support-fund.
Salford City Council
Salford City Council is handing out help to vulnerable households to cover essentials like food and energy.
The council says you don’t need to be receiving benefits to apply, however you will need to provide evidence you don’t have enough money to pay for food, fuel or energy.
Any support is issued via vouchers not cash payments.
You can apply by calling the council’s helpline on 0800 011 3998. To find out more visit www.salford.gov.uk/advice-and-support/household-support-fund.
Bear in mind, if you live in Salford and have already had help through this round of the scheme, you won’t qualify for help for a second time.
South Tyneside Council
South Tyneside Council is offering pensioners on a low income payments worth £200.
These are being issued to those just above the threshold for Pension Credit who missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment.
The Winter Fuel Payment was means-tested last winter rather than universal meaning only those on certain benefits qualified for it.
If you’re a pensioner and think you’re eligible for one of the payments, the deadline to apply is March 24.
You can do this through Age Concern South Tyneside, Citizens Advice or the council’s Welfare Support Team.
More details can be found via www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/25969/household-support-fund.
Household Support Fund explained
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.
The current round runs until the end of March 2025, but has been extended.
The next round will run between April 2025 and March 2026.
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