The Household Support Fund scheme, first introduced in October 2021, provides cost of living support to low-income households through local councils
Thousands of households are set to get a free support payment worth up to £225 through an official government cost of living scheme.
The Household Support Fund scheme, first introduced in October 2021, provides cost of living support to low-income households through local councils. Each authority receives a pot of cash to spend on support for people living in those areas.
Each council decides how it spends its cash, and help can consist of cash payments, energy, or supermarket vouchers. Tandridge Council is providing free cost of living payments to residents who are struggling and applications for the help opened this month. Eligible households without children will receive a payment of £125, while households with children under 19 will receive £225.
Applications for the help have now closed, and the council is reviewing them. Those who have applied will be notified once a decision has been made on their application; if successful, the payment will be made by BACS transfer to the nominated bank account.
Tandridge Council is not the only one that has chosen to provide cost of living payments to its residents. Walsall Council is giving their residents a free £75 payment to cover food and energy costs over the festive period. Doncaster Council is also providing a £75 payment to households claiming certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits. If you have children, the payment doubles to £150. Nottingham County Council is also providing 32,000 residents with a payment of £100 to help with costs over winter.
You cannot apply for these schemes if you do not live in the area – you can only apply for help from your local authority. However, your local council will have its own Household Support Scheme you can access. You should keep an eye out for any updates on the schemes on your local authority’s website.