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Thousands of people with disabilities or illnesses can apply for cost of living payments from tomorrow. Are you eligible?

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Thousands of people with disabilities or illnesses can apply for cost of living payments from tomorrow. Are you eligible?

From tomorrow, thousands of people with disabilities or other debilitating conditions will be eligible to apply for cost of living support.

The government’s £421 million household support fund has been divided between councils in England.

Contact your local council to see if any support (promotions) is offered to you.

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Contact your local council to see if any support (promotions) is offered to you.1 credit

To support those struggling, certain groups of people are eligible for free supermarket vouchers worth £240.

They can be used in six major supermarkets – Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Island and Morrisons.

There is also support for credit codes or vouchers worth up to £200 towards your energy bills.

Others may get help paying for essential items known as appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines.

Each local government was allocated a different amount of money depending on how many needy residents there were.

Local leaders must also decide whether support will be provided in cash or vouchers and at what stages.

For example, Citizens Advice Plymouth has extended its application deadline for assistance.

Windows for pensioners and poor families with children under 18 can no longer apply because their windows have closed.

But from tomorrow, people with disabilities or illnesses, as well as those living in single families, will be able to apply.

This window will be open from 25 November to 2 December and anyone eligible will be able to apply via the Citizens Advice Plymouth website.

Strange reason why my smart meter isn’t working and I’m missing out on cheaper bills

To be eligible, you will need to prove that you are experiencing financial hardship and live in Plymouth, and meet the application window criteria.

You were also unable to receive support from HSF before.

“Many of those struggling with the cost of energy, food and water are disabled people who are feeling the worst effects of the ongoing cost of living crisis,” Disability Rights UK said.

What if I’m not in Plymouth?

Those who do not live in Plymouth will need to check whether similar support is offered to them.

The HSF is divided between numerous councils, not just Plymouth.

It all depends on where you are and there are no set eligibility criteria for HSF as the government has said it is for anyone who is vulnerable or struggling to pay for essentials.

This means that if you’re on benefits or on a low income, you may be able to get extra help, so it’s worth checking.

Your best bet is to contact your local council via www.gov.uk/find-local-council to find out if you are eligible for additional support.

Derby City Council is giving £125 worth of supermarket vouchers to families in need.

Meanwhile, Darlington Council is handing out £100 worth of food vouchers to families.

Household Support Fund explained

Sun Savers editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.

If you’re struggling to pay your energy and water bills, food or other essentials and services, the Household Support Fund can be a vital lifeline.

Financial assistance is a little-known way for families in need to get extra help with the cost of living.

Each council in England has been given a share of £421 million in cash by the government to distribute to local low-income households.

Each local authority chooses how to deliver support. Some offer vouchers, while others provide direct cash payments.

In many cases, the cost of support for individual families is estimated to be hundreds of pounds.

Just as support varies across councils, so do selection criteria.

Many councils offer assistance to households on individual benefits or may base assistance on household income.

The key is to contact your local authorities to find out exactly what support is offered.

And don’t delay: the scheme has been extended until April 2025, but your council can allocate its share of the Household Support Fund before that date.

Once the money runs out, you may find that they are unable to provide any further assistance, so it is vital that you apply as soon as possible.

In Rotherham, low-income families can receive grants of £250.

Birmingham will receive the largest share of the fund at £12.8 million due to its population and need.

Other areas will receive much less, with the City of London receiving just over £63,000 and the Isles of Scilly receiving the smallest amount at £11,130.

The HSF is available until March next year, and each council has a different application process and criteria, so you’ll have to check your council’s website.

Not all councils have yet decided how support will be distributed, but this round of the fund, which was originally launched in 2021, is still months away from completing.

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