UK households struggling to afford essentials this winter are being handed cost of living payments of up to £250.
The cash comes from the government’s Household Support Fund which is distributed to local councils across the country by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The funding pot is worth £421 million and is used to help families and vulnerable people afford things like energy bills, food and essential items during the winter.
Local councils decide independently how to distribute the money they are awarded so there may be different eligibility criteria that you’ll have to meet depending on where you live.
For example, households in Leicestershire have been able to apply for support of up to £300 per household in the form of vouchers to help afford gas, electricity and food, while residents in Leeds in receipt of Council Tax Support can get a payment of £40, and some pensioner households can get £150.
The DWP says there may also be differences in who the money is given to and if or how you need to apply for the support.
Some local councils opt to share the money out through local charities and community groups, while some will limit household applications to one per year.
Rotherham Council has been awarded £2.5 million from the Household Support Fund and will offer the cash to people struggling with living costs in payments of up to £250.
The allocated cash pot will be used to help fund food vouchers for more than 13,700 children who are eligible for free school meals during the school holiday. The vouchers are for £15 each week and are distributed by the schools. All those who are eligible and in receipt of free school meals will get the vouchers so there’s no need to apply.
A total of £1.1 million will go towards helping households that are having trouble affording expensive energy bills, the council said, adding that a similar scheme helped 4,622 families earlier this year.
Additionally, the funds will also help around 15,000 local households with their council tax through a £150,000 top-up to the council tax support scheme, while a further £50,000 will go towards providing household essentials through food banks and social supermarkets.
Rotherham Council is expected to approve the funding and will make sure it is fully utilised by March next year.
If you’re struggling with essential living costs you could be eligible for support from the scheme. You should check with your local council to see what support is available and if you might be eligible for help.
