PEOPLE are being urged to check if they can get an extra £270 in direct payments to thousands of bank accounts to help meet their living costs.
Council bosses have revealed which new families are set to benefit from the government’s £842m Household Support Fund programme.
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Thousands of people are being promised a one-off payment of £270 Credit: Getty
Local authorities were given the freedom to decide whether to distribute the extra money – and, if so, to whom.
Shropshire County Council has now decided to distribute payments of £270 to vulnerable families to help with essentials such as food and energy bills.
The government’s program to help with the rising cost of living should last until the end of March next year.
The latest tranche of payments is set to go to around 6,000 low-income households in Shropshire, West Midlands.
Read more about the cost of living
But there are conditions and everyone who is eligible will have to meet certain categories.
Those who could receive payments include pensioners who receive Council Tax Support but not the Pension Credit Guarantee.
Families receiving council tax support can also apply if they receive carer’s allowance or have a child or independent person receiving disability benefit.
They also meet the requirements of households in which there is relief from a carer or a disability belt on council tax.
Money is automatically sent to people’s bank accounts if the local authority already has their payment details.
Others were told to expect letters inviting them to apply.
The council posted on its website: “We are currently processing all eligible Household Support Fund applications that we have received.”
Meanwhile, Shropshire County Council is also promising meal vouchers during the school holidays for children who receive free school meals linked to benefits.
Around 7,500 children are believed to benefit from the grant, which is equivalent to £15 a week, the Mirror reported.
People living elsewhere in England are encouraged to check local council websites for information about any similar Household Support Fund payments that may be on offer.
Kent County Council is giving out £100 worth of food vouchers, while Dorset County Council has made £150 supermarket tokens available.
£300 worth of payouts are available in West Northamptonshire, while there were offers of £200 in Nottinghamshire.
Ribble Valley Council in Lancashire has started accepting applications for vouchers worth up to £500.
And thousands of people in North Yorkshire received electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.
But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has threatened that Britons will be tracked and face losing benefits if they break the rules and do not look for work when they are able to work.
Mr Hunt, who is due to make his Autumn Statement next Wednesday, has unveiled a change to benefits that could put millions out of work.
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