THOUSANDS of families across the UK can claim a lifeline to ease the pressure on the cost of living through a government scheme.
The Household Support Fund (HSF) is set to provide thousands of families with free £50 supermarket vouchers to be spent at Asda, Tesco, Iceland and Aldi.
It’s aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or struggling to afford the basics and you don’t have to be on benefits.
If you do receive benefits, don’t worry – your payments won’t be affected.
Funding targets those on low incomes or with limited savings. Every council in the UK has received a slice of the pie, and what you get depends on where you live. Let’s break it down:
Wyre Council offering families £50 worth of supermarket shopping vouchers and support.
The council has told The Sun it has already given out 2500 payments.
You can apply for a HSF payment if:
and you are a couple or single adult with dependent children in respect of whom you receive child benefit, with a total annual income below £40,000 for a single adult and £52,000 for a couple.
Or you are a couple or single adult with no dependent children and your total annual gross household income is below £25,000 for a single adult and £30,000 for a couple.
Leicestershire
Families in Leicestershire can bag a financial award of £300 per household. You’ll get vouchers for gas, electricity, and food.
You can even redeem your vouchers for a Post Office pay out.
E-vouchers for food can also be converted online into a gift card for top supermarkets like Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and more.
You can apply if you:
Hertfordshire families can get a £60 voucher for the summer holidays. Plus, there’s help for food banks, energy support, and services for the homeless and domestic abuse survivors.
Care leavers over 19 are in for a £50 voucher treat.
With a whopping £2.6 million allocated, Ealing’s dishing out supermarket vouchers through their partner, Blackhawk.
Those receiving benefits-related free school meals can claim up to That’s £90 per child in July.
Kids under five can mean you can claim £90 per household if you receive housing benefit or council tax reduction.
Care leavers can also claim £100 per person.
There’s no application needed, eligible families will get an email or letter with a 16-digit code to redeem the vouchers online.
Focusing on children and pensioners, Hartlepool hands out £60 shopping vouchers per child on free school meals and the same amount to low-income pensioners.
No need to apply – it’s all automatic.
Medway’s support comes in the form of supermarket vouchers ranging from £65 for single-person households to £225 for families of six or more.
Vouchers will be emailed, ready to claim as digital gift codes.
If you don’t live in these areas and are feeling the pinch, don’t suffer in silence.
The Household Support Fund is here to help you get back on your feet.
Hit up your local council’s website and see what you’re eligible for – as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
Information on how to apply for the funding should be published on your council’s website. Each council will have a different application process.
If there’s no information on your council’s website, then it’s best to ring them up and ask for more information.
Meanwhile, with the ever-rising inflation driving up the price of groceries, many families are struggling to keep up with costs.
Luckily we share five secrets to getting your groceries for less.
Elsewhere, waste reduction experts reveal how families can slash the cost of their weekly shop, as one woman puts their tips to the test.
THERE are several ways you can get discounts and reductions on your council tax bill.
In some cases, you can even get the bill completely wiped with a council tax reduction.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
You’ll need your National Insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
Below, we reveal all the ways you can get discounts or a reduction on your bill:
Single person discount
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can
