Households don't have long left to claim £450 cost of living help

13 February 2024 , 09:23

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The money is being paid through the Government's Household Support Fund scheme (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Thousands of households don't have long left to claim free cost of living cash worth up to £450.

The support payment is being given to households through the Government's Household Support Fund. This scheme gives local councils a pot of money to support struggling households in their area. Each local authority decides on how they spend the cash with some providing supermarket vouchers and others providing cash payments.

Residents in Caldervale, West Yorkshire are sending out payments worth up to £450. The money is being paid through the council's Discretionary Hardship Scheme (DHS). This support is specifically for residents who did not get any extra cost of living support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This means residents who claim certain benefits - so were eligible for the cost of living payments - are not able to apply.

To get this payment, you will need to make an application through the council's website here. Alongside your application, you will need to provide two months' worth of bank statements for all accounts in the house as well as proof you are facing "Hardship". You also cannot apply if you have more than £3,000 in savings. If you are eligible, you will receive the cash payment before March 31 2024.

Alongside the £450 payment, Caldervale council is also providing cash payments of £50 to households who are claiming Council Tax Reduction and/or Housing Benefit and/or free school meals. Calderdale Council began contacting eligible families in January, but households can still register for payment if they think they're eligible. The deadline for applications is Thursday, February 29.

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Households with a disabled person will also be receiving a payment of £50. Again the payment is automatic and people do not need to apply. However, people who have become eligible since October 2023 will be contacted by the council from February 16 and told how to register for the payment. This payment will be paid to those eligible from February 19 until February 23. Calderdale Council says households should wait for their payment until Wednesday, February 28 to "allow time for the payment to go into your bank account".

To make sure you get the payment, Calderdale Council says people should make sure the council has:

• Up-to-date household information
• Email addresses

You can make sure these are all updated by logging into your online council tax account.

Ruby Flanagan