HOUSEHOLDS are getting an extra £170 in living expenses payments before Christmas.
Difficult families can claim money through the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF).
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Residents of the London Borough of Merton could get £170 in free cashCredit: Getty
The money was allocated from the fund of 842 million pounds by the Ministry of Work and Pensions.
Each council is allocated a portion of the money to distribute to cash-strapped families earning less than £50,000.
The grants you can claim depend on your location, so you’ll need to check how much you can get and how the council will pay you.
Some local authorities do bank transfers, while others offer assistance in the form of food stamps or utilities.
The fund was due to end in March this year, but has been extended until April 2024 – meaning households can receive more support.
Residents of the London Borough of Merton could get £170 in free cash.
It will pay those claiming housing benefit, but not other state-funded benefits.
You do not need to apply for the £170 and the money will be automatically paid by the council.
Those who qualify will receive a voucher during December.
You can use it at any post office within three months from the date on your voucher.
Check with your local municipalities what support is available and eligibility criteria.
To get help, you will need to check with your local council as local authorities are responsible for distributing funds.
To find your local authority, use the gov.uk council finder.
What if I don’t live in Merton?
Your local council will probably have their own version of the plan and you should contact them to find out more.
But be quick – HSF applications are usually on a first-come, first-served basis. You don’t want to miss out and be disappointed.
And remember what you get will depend on your situation and not every council will monetize in the same way.
For example, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council pay up to £230 into the bank accounts of thousands of people.
But only if you receive tax support from the municipality.
You should check with your local council about what help you might be waiting for.
If you don’t know which council area you fall under, you can use the government’s online council finder tool.
Just type “find my local community” into Google and it should be the first link that comes up on the page.
What other help can I get?
There’s always plenty of help even if you don’t qualify for HSF.
A number of energy suppliers, for example, including British Gas, E.On and EDF, offer grants worth up to £1,500.
You should contact your if you are having difficulty tracking payments.
And keep in mind that the Hot Home discount is paid out, even though it ends this month. It’s a one-off payment of £150 towards your energy bills paid to eligible households between October and March each year.
There are different ways to qualify for the scheme, but if you live in England and Wales you must:
- receive an element of the guarantee loan of the pension loan
- have low incomes and high energy costs
After 31 March you can still get help with your energy bills if you’re having trouble paying.
For example, a living expenses payment of £301 will arrive in bank accounts between 25 April and 17 May.
It’s part of a larger £900 payout this year, which will come in three installments – the remaining two, worth £300 and £299, will be made this autumn and spring 2024 respectively.
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