How to claim your £700 free cash grant to help with the cost of living
Joanna Lovell
Associate EditorThe money will be paid direct to households who weren't eligible for the DWP's £900 cost of living payments
Thousands of struggling families are in line for a £700 payout – and the money will be paid directly into bank accounts.
The cash boost comes from the government, and is filtered to residents via local councils, through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
Once a local authority is in receipt of the funding, it is up to them how they spend it; some might give out vouchers, others might hand out items such as air-fryers and slow cookers, to enable families to cook more efficiently and save money on energy bills.
In Newcastle, the local authority is distributing its share of the Household Support Fund to residents on Housing Benefit who are not eligible for the Government's £900 cost of living payment, in the form of a cash grant. You can see here a list of what support is available, area by area.
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- Thousands of parents to get £150 supermarket vouchers
- New Universal Credit rule affecting thousands is coming this autumn
How do I know if I'm eligible?
In Newcastle, depending on the individual's circumstances, the council will pay out between £400 and £700 in instalments across this year.
The Revenue and Benefits department has been contacting eligible households since the start of June.
All those who qualify for help will be contacted by the end of this month.
Can I get help if I don't live in Newcastle?
Yes you can. But what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live.
Families on low incomes in Portsmouth
Supermarket vouchers are being given out to struggling families in Portsmouth, to help ease the burden of all the extra grocery shopping that the 6-week school holiday entails.
Thousands of families will be able to get £150 worth of supermarket vouchers per child over the summer, so it is well worth checking to see if you are eligible for the scheme, or something similar.
Families on low incomes in Wokingham
Wokingham Council have delivered more than 650 energy saving packs, including air fryer/slow cookers, heated blankets and thermal clothing to families.
Families on low incomes in Stockton-on-Tees
Struggling households in Stockton-on-Tees may be eligible for up to £300 in cash to help them with their bills.
Help for residents in Bury
Residents in Bury, Greater Manchester, could also get a one-off payment of between £100 and £300 to cover essential costs – such as fuel, bills and grocery costs.
You won't need to be on benefits to qualify, and the cash will be paid either via bank transfer or as vouchers.
Families on low incomes in Dudley
Some councils have already given out help in the form of cash payments – in Dudley Borough, for example, you can get a one-off payment of £175 if:
- you are a multi-person household (this includes your partner, children or anyone else that lives with you)
- your joint gross income, including wages and any other income (including pensions and benefits), is less than £45,000 a year
- your savings are less than £6,000
Help for residents in the West Midlands
Eligible residents who live in the West Midlands and have Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council as their local authority could get a payment of up to £900.
The council said the support is being given to households who didn't get the £900 cost of living payment from the DWP – but were receiving Housing Benefit as of 1 April this year.
Below are some examples of how councils in England are helping families with children via the HSF during the summer holidays:
- Kirklees council, Yorkshire – £70 voucher handed out before the end of summer term
- Nottingham City Council – £15 vouchers provided weekly
- Surrey County Council – £90 voucher handed out during the holidays
- Sutton council, London – £90 voucher
- Sheffield City Council – £50 voucher
- Oldham Council – £60 voucher
- Cambridgeshire County Council – £75 voucher
How do I know what I am eligible for?
Contact your local council for details of what's available in your area and how to apply.
Eligibility criteria varies as well, but in most cases you'll be in line for help if you're on certain benefits or a low income.
The best thing to do is get in touch with your local council to see what help you might be able to get.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The Household Support Fund helps with payments for essentials such as food, utilities and clothing, and was first introduced in September 2021, with councils distributing it as they saw fit – we explained here how some families were entitled to shopping vouchers under the scheme.
You can read more about the Household Support Fund here.
How much help can my council give me?
The total amount of assistance your local authority can give you will depend on how much money they were allocated in the first place.
You can find out what their share of the Government handout was by checking out this list on the Government website.
The most common types of support individual councils provide each year comes in the form of supermarket vouchers, fuel vouchers and 1-off payments.
What other help is available?
If you're not entitled to help via the Household Support Fund, millions are in line for cost of living payments worth up to £1,350.
The first instalment of the £900 payment has been paid to millions on certain benefits.
A £150 disability cost of living payment has also already been paid to millions.
Cost-of-living news and advice
You can keep up to date with all the latest benefit and money news by checking out our Cost of Living hub.
Here you will find lots of Government-based advice on cash you might be entitled to, and when you can expect the latest Cost of Living payments and other allowances to land in your bank account.
There are also top tips from the Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, as well as brilliant ideas for saving money on everything from your weekly shop, to that well-deserved holiday.
Looking for more help? We've got the round-up of ALL the benefits parents could be entitled to over the school summer holidays here.
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