16 October 2023 , 12:05
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Vulnerable households could be eligible to get extra cost of living payments and support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The extra support comes through the DWP's Household Support Fund. This scheme provides local councils with a pot of cash which they can use to help vulnerable households in their community. The council can decide how the money is spent and usually it is in the form of free cash, supermarket vouchers, or energy bill support.
The Household Support fund scheme was first brought in in 2021, and the most recent extension gave councils £842million to spend until March of next year. Since its launch, vulnerable households have received more than 26million awards according to recent figures.
The DWP says over £2billion has been invested into the fund over the last two years, with almost £800million already paid to households with children to ease the cost of living between October 2021 and March 2023.
This week the DWP has launched "Household Support Fund Awareness Week" to help inform Brits of the extra help they could be entitiled to.
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Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP, said: "Thanks to this Government’s massive extension to the Household Support Fund for every community throughout England, plus money for devolved Governments, we have seen some wonderfully innovative and locally focused uses of the additional money by local councils to ensure support is delivered to those families and those needing extra help in tough times.
“This Household Support Fund Awareness Week, I do encourage anyone in the country who is struggling to cover costs to speak to their local council about what extra support is available in their area. I know local MPs will be keen to do the same, so their constituents know the additional help available on their doorstep.”
Who qualifies for help through the Household Support Fund?
This scheme is designed to help low-income and vulnerable households struggling financially and councils have been advised to allocate the money to "vulnerable households in most need of support to help with significantly rising living costs". In particular, local authorities have been told they should prioritise people who:
- Are eligible for but not claiming qualifying benefits
- Became eligible for benefits after the relevant qualifying dates
- Are in receipt of Housing Benefit only
- Are normally eligible for benefits but who had a nil award in the qualifying period due to
However, even if you don't fall into one of these categories, you should still get in touch with your council if you are struggling.
It states in Government guidelines: "This list is not exhaustive and there may additionally be households that are vulnerable to rising costs despite being in receipt of this government support with the cost of living."
What help is being offered by councils?
The DWP says each local council is using their fund in many "innovative ways". However, you should be aware that you can only access help provided by your local authority. This means the support available can be quite the postcode lottery.
To know what your local authority is offering you will need to go to their website. Councils often only have certain windows to apply for any help so you will need to keep an eye out on when these windows are.
For example, residents in East Riding, Yorkshire are receiving cash payments for free. The total amount being paid out is £350 with the first payment of £150 being paid 20 days after your application is accepted. The second payment of £200 will then be paid by the end of November. Households in this area have until October 21 to put in an application for the money.
Tandridge Council are also offering free cash to residents. Those eligible could receive payments of up to £350. The applications for this payment are set to open on Monday, December 11 at 10am.
In Buckinghamshire, a warm box scheme is being provided so vulnerable residents can stay warm in the colder weather. In Kent essential white goods and furniture is financed for those who can’t afford it.
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