CASH IN
One-off payments worth up to £150 going to thousands of households – will you get EXTRA cost of living cash?
Schoolchildren and pensioners are set to benefit from the cash
THOUSANDS of households are set to get one-off payments worth up to £150 with pensioners and schoolchildren set to benefit.
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has given Bolton Council in Greater Manchester £2.8million under the extended Household Support Fund.
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The funding is distributed to all councils for them to decide how to help residents in their areas.
Each local authority gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.
In Bolton, town hall bosses plan to issue the following:
- Children in Bolton eligible for free school meals will get vouchers to the value of £15 per child to cover the May half-term holidays and £60 per child to cover the summer holidays.
- Around 10,000 pensioners in receipt of council tax support and pension credit will get £25 post office vouchers.
- Around 9,000 pensioners residents in receipt of a disability related benefits will get £25 supermarket vouchers
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
THE Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Chancellor Jeremey Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
It means a family of two kids can get up to £150 in extra cash, for example.
Details about whether you need to apply remain scarce. To avoid missing out, simply contact the council directly.
It's also yet not confirmed exactly when payments will go out.
Bolton Council also plans further funding for community groups, its Holidays Activity and Fun (HAF) summer programme, grants for boiler repairs, emergency housing costs and extra help for carers.
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A council spokesman, said: “Energy bills may of particular concern to low income households during the period of the scheme
and councils should especially consider how they can support households with food and the cost of energy.
“It is important to stress this covers a wide range of low income households and there is no requirement to be in receipt of welfare benefits.
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“Authorities can deliver the scheme through a variety of routes including providing vouchers to households, making direct provision of food or issuing grants to third parties.
“The DWP considers that councils have the local ties and knowledge, making them best placed to identify and help those most in need.”
What if I don't live in Bolton?
To get the help, you'll need to check with your council - as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you've found your council, there should be information on how to apply on its website.
Each council will have a different application process - so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary.
Some councils won't require you to apply for the help and they'll contact you about it instead if you qualify.
If there's no information on your council's website, then it's best to ring them up and ask for more information.
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