Thousands of households have just hours left to claim £105 cost of living voucher
HOUSEHOLDS can qualify for a free cash grant of £105 - but they have just hours left to apply.
Thousands of households risk missing out on free cost of living support.
The cash support is available through the government's Household Support Fund.
The scheme works by distributing the funding cash available to councils up and down the country, which is then dished out to those in need.
Each local authority gets a different sum based on the size of their catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.
Children who are registered for free school meals can also get supermarket vouchers which are distributed through schools.
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The amount of vouchers and funding available, and how long you have to apply, will vary based on the area in which you live.
The eligibility conditions will also vary based on what your council is offering.
For example, households in Bracknell Forest Council can receive a £105 payout if they apply by tonight.
Bracknell Forest residents must be in receipt of qualifying benefits and their child must meet one of the following criteria:
- child is under 5 years old in an early years setting
- child is 16 to 18 years old in full time education
- young person is aged 16 to 25 years old in full time education with an Education, Health and Care plan
- child is home educated
- child attends an out of borough school where they are not eligible for equivalent support from their education authority
If successful, a maximum of one £105 payment per child will be awarded during the period 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024.
Applications can also be made through the following referral partners:
- Centre 4 Community – Connect NEL
- Foresight North East Lincolnshire
- Creating Positive Opportunity- external site
- NAViGO- external site (for NAViGO service users only)
- Lincolnshire Housing Partnership
- Oasis
Referral partners help to signpost applicants in finding support that may be available to them.
To find out more, visit nelincs.gov.uk/benefits/household-support-fund.
The deadline for Bracknell Forest Council's fund is tonight at 11.59pm.
The current fund officially ends on September 30, but some, such as this one, close earlier.
Councils have warned that due to limited funding, applications could close at any point once the full Household Support Fund has been fully distributed.
More cash will be up for grabs after the official dates, as the fund has been extended until April 2025, however we recommend that to avoid disappointment you apply now.
To find out what you can get and how to get paid, visit your local council's website and search Household Support Fund.
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.
What are other councils offering?
Cheshire East Council is also offering struggling families £500 grants to fight the cost of living.
Struggling single people or childless couples can gain £120 under Coventry City Council, and families can get £160.
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
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And residents in Blackpool can receive up to £300 in support from the Household Support Fund.
To find out what's on offer from your council, visit gov.uk/find-local-council.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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