Halton Borough Council is awarding the cash to pensioners who are in receipt of council tax reduction or housing benefit, as part of the Household Support Fund
Thousands of low income pensioner households will get a free £130 payment before Christmas.
Halton Borough Council is awarding the cash to pensioners who are in receipt of council tax reduction or housing benefit, as part of the Household Support Fund. The Household Support Fund is a scheme that allows local councils to award specific help to residents who are behind on bills, or on low incomes.
It is down to each local authority to decide what support to give, and who gets it, which means many households face a postcode lottery when it comes to what help is available. The help normally comes in the form of one-off cash payments that don’t need to be paid back, or vouchers for food or energy.
If you’re eligible, Halton Borough Council will send the money to your bank account automatically – which means you don’t need to apply – or if they don’t have your bank details, you’ll be sent a voucher. The cash should be sent to you before Christmas.
The council is also giving out free school meal vouchers to approximately 7,500 eligible pupils. These are worth £12 per week and will be provided during the two weeks of the Christmas holidays and spring half term. The Household Support Fund was due to end on September 30, 2024 but it has been extended for an additional six months, until March 31, 2025, costing a total of £421million.
If you’re not a Halton resident, it is worth checking the website of your local council to see what help it could potentially offer you. For example, Peterborough City Council is giving pensioners a £100 voucher if you’re on a low income, but not receiving Pension Credit. You must also have less than £10,000 in savings and live within the Peterborough City Council area.
Nottingham City Council is handing out supermarket and energy vouchers to eligible households. Each household can get two energy support vouchers worth £49 each and one £75 supermarket voucher each month. Free school meal vouchers worth £15 a week will also be sent out over the Christmas and February school holidays.
People living in Rotherham are able to claim the £250 support this winter. To qualify, you must have no more than £150 remaining each month after covering essential expenses like food, rent or mortgage, and utility bills. The funding is not means-tested but only one application can be made per household.
