Households struggling in Medway can claim share of £4m fund
Households in Medway struggling to meet the cost of living can claim a share of £4m.The cash is from the Household Support Fund, introduced in October 2021, which the government has decided to extend for another year.The money is shared out to local authorities to allocate, with Medway having £3,987,524 for the coming financial year.Medway Council also said it would be giving free school meal vouchers to eligible families throughout the summer holidays.
Council leader Vince Maple said: "The Household Support Fund provides support to some of Medway's most vulnerable residents."We know there are more than 12,500 children in Medway who are eligible for free school meals and being able to ensure that they and their families continue to receive that support is incredibly important to us as a council."Anyone who may be eligible can find out more and apply here.
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Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Millions of families on Universal Credit can claim £1,000 summer cost of living cash now – check if you qualify
Scroll to see if your area is on the list CASH IN Millions of families on Universal Credit can claim £1,000 summer cost of living cash now – check if you qualify Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of hard-up families can tap into financial help worth hundreds of pounds to ease the burden of extra costs over the summer holidays. Every council in England has cash to dole out to support residents who are struggling to afford essentials with the government's Household Support Fund. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 You could get hundreds of pounds in support to help with the cost of living Credit: Alamy The £742million scheme hands councils up and down the country to give households in need. Each local authority gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households. The voucher or grant amounts vary by location, so you must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you. There are different criteria for applications too. But often councils specify that you will need to be in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit. The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills. Residents are advised to check their local council's website or social media for updates. Many councils have dedicated Household Support Fund pages with details on how to apply. Here ares some of the schemes currently open and accepting appilcations from those on Universal Credit.. Birmingham Hard-up households in Birmingham can get up to £200 payments through the latest round of the fund. Applications are opening at some point in June so keep an eye on the council website. Those who have not received a payment from the council in the past 12 months will qualify for this round. The money is intended to help with energy, grocery and water costs. Calderdale Residents in Calderdale in need can get a up to two awards for £85 each: One between now and 30th September 2025, and; One between 1st October 2025 and 31st March 2026. Anyone can apply including those on Universal Credit online at the council website. But you'll need to provide your last two bank statements for yourself and your partner for all accounts held to get the payments. You'll also need to be liable for paying council tax in the area. Cheshire West Cheshire West Council's latest allocation of the Household Support Fund is worth £200 for those eligible. Support ranges from vouchers to put towards food costs to cash for energy bills and help with other essentials. It will be available to residents receiving either housing benefit or a council tax reduction which is accessible to those on a low income or benefits including Universal Credit. You can apply through its online portal for cost of living support. But, you can only make one application in a six month period and applications must be made per household, so partners cannot submit two separate claims. Doncaster The city council will be providing one-off payments worth up to £300 to residents on selected benefits, including Universal Credit. You'll also be eligible if you receive: Housing benefit Local Council Tax Reduction Means-tested free school meals. As part of the support, families can get £100 vouchers towards the cost of food if they have one dependent child. Households with two dependent children will get £200, while families with three or more will get £300. Other eligible households - including those without children - can get £100 towards the cost of energy bills. Households that haven't received a payment previously will need to submit an application. You can do that using the link here. Hull Eligible pensioners will be given £200 to help them out after the Government made cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment. Low income families will also be eligible for a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for school meal Hull City Council has not yet opened applications for payments, but updates will be posted on the council's website. Leeds Struggling families in Leeds can get payments of up to £150. All claimants must be in receipt of Council Tax Support, a scheme where those on a low income or benefits including Universal Credit can get money off the bill. The council said those who are eligible for the support will receive the payment in the autumn and winter. A qualifying date for when you need to have been in receipt of Council Tax Support to be eligible for the support has not yet been set. So if you think you may be eligible for the support it might be worth submitting an application. You can find out more by vising North Somerset North Somerset Council has also announced it will provide food vouchers worth up to £100 to those in need. This will be automatically given to families eligible for free school meals. The council is also distributing £50 food vouchers to support other vulnerable residents, including: Those on council tax reduction (CTR) which can be accessed through those on benefits including UC Pensioners People with severe mental impairments Care leavers Housing benefit claimants not already receiving CTR. Portsmouth Residents in Portsmouth in financial hardship and struggling to afford essentials, can apply for an exceptional hardship payment worth up to £1,000 as part of the Household Support Fund. Those on Universal Credit and other benefits can apply but you don't need to be. However the city is closing applications in just days on June 12 so you'll need to move quickly. You'll need to provide evidence of your income and bank accounts. You also need to tell what you've done to improve your financial situation and why you need help. The exact amount you receive depends on household size -the maximum amount is for six or more of £800. Whereas one person gets £350, two people £420, three people £500, four people £600, and five people £700. Households deemed to be in the highest level of need can be awarded a further £200 taking the total payment up to £1,000. Apply online at the Portsmouth city council website. Reading Thousands of residents in Reading are in line to receive £125 vouchers in the coming weeks. Households containing children eligible for free school meals are eligible. Care levers will also be receiving a voucher payment of £125. For most care leavers this voucher will be sent to them by the Post Office, with some others being provided directly by the Leaving Care Team. Vouchers will be sent in July and December 2025 and will need to be cashed by the end of September 2025, and January 2026. Redcar & Cleveland Households in Redcar & Cleveland can now apply for support worth up to £230. How much you can get depends on different factors such as whether you have children or not. For example, if you are household without children receiving Council Tax Support you will receive a payment of £116. And if you have one or more dependent children in your household and claiming the support you will receive £230. Those with children who don't receive Council Tax Support but have a low household income and are financially struggling will also receive £230. Worcestershire Families living in Worcestershire can apply for cost of living cash worth £500. You'll need to be below earning limits as follows: £24,570 or less (for a single adult with no children) £31,000 or less (for all other households) You must also have no savings, unless you're of state pension age – in which case you can have up to £5,000. You can be on Universal Credit but at least one person in your household must meet ONE of the following: Be of state pension age Have a long-term diagnosed health condition or be registered disabled Have a child under four Be in receipt of DWP benefits like Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, PIP or Disability Living Allowance Be receiving support from services such as food banks, Citizens Advice, Age UK, mental health or housing support, or your GP's social prescribing team Windsor and Maidenhead Households in the Royal borough can get payments of up to £150 to ease pressures. However, the council isn't accepting applications directly instead you'll need to contact its partners. The overarching partner is Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB) and should be the first port of call for residents needing support. What if my area isn't on the list? Some councils have very limited application windows for support. If you don't see your council on the list, visit their website and look for information on the Household Support Fund. If there is a date that applications open, make a calendar note and apply as soon as it opens. Some councils will close for applications as soon as cash is distributed - in some cases this can be on the very same day that applications open. Other councils automatically give cash to those in receipt of certain benefits such as free school meals or coucil tax support. Check the Household Support Fund pages on your local council website to find details of what's on offer and how to apply. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Millions of families on Universal Credit can claim £1,000 summer cost of living cash now – check if you qualify
MILLIONS of hard-up families can tap into financial help worth hundreds of pounds to ease the burden of extra costs over the summer holidays. Every council in England has cash to dole out to support residents who are struggling to afford essentials with the government's Household Support Fund. 1 The £742million scheme hands councils up and down the country to give households in need. Each local authority gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households. The voucher or grant amounts vary by location, so you must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you. There are different criteria for applications too. But often councils specify that you will need to be in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit. The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills. Residents are advised to check their local council's website or social media for updates. Many councils have dedicated Household Support Fund pages with details on how to apply. Here ares some of the schemes currently open and accepting appilcations from those on Universal Credit.. Birmingham Hard-up households in Birmingham can get up to £200 payments through the latest round of the fund. Applications are opening at some point in June so keep an eye on the council website. Those who have not received a payment from the council in the past 12 months will qualify for this round. The money is intended to help with energy, grocery and water costs. Calderdale Residents in Calderdale in need can get a up to two awards for £85 each: One between now and 30th September 2025, and; One between 1st October 2025 and 31st March 2026. Anyone can apply including those on Universal Credit online at the council website. But you'll need to provide your last two bank statements for yourself and your partner for all accounts held to get the payments. You'll also need to be liable for paying council tax in the area. Cheshire West Cheshire West Council's latest allocation of the Household Support Fund is worth £200 for those eligible. Support ranges from vouchers to put towards food costs to cash for energy bills and help with other essentials. It will be available to residents receiving either housing benefit or a council tax reduction which is accessible to those on a low income or benefits including Universal Credit. You can apply through its online portal for cost of living support. But, you can only make one application in a six month period and applications must be made per household, so partners cannot submit two separate claims. Doncaster The city council will be providing one-off payments worth up to £300 to residents on selected benefits, including Universal Credit. You'll also be eligible if you receive: Housing benefit Local Council Tax Reduction Means-tested free school meals. As part of the support, families can get £100 vouchers towards the cost of food if they have one dependent child. Households with two dependent children will get £200, while families with three or more will get £300. Other eligible households - including those without children - can get £100 towards the cost of energy bills. Households that haven't received a payment previously will need to submit an application. You can do that using the link here. Hull Eligible pensioners will be given £200 to help them out after the Government made cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment. Low income families will also be eligible for a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for school meal Hull City Council has not yet opened applications for payments, but updates will be posted on the council's website. Leeds Struggling families in Leeds can get payments of up to £150. All claimants must be in receipt of Council Tax Support, a scheme where those on a low income or benefits including Universal Credit can get money off the bill. The council said those who are eligible for the support will receive the payment in the autumn and winter. A qualifying date for when you need to have been in receipt of Council Tax Support to be eligible for the support has not yet been set. So if you think you may be eligible for the support it might be worth submitting an application. You can find out more by vising North Somerset North Somerset Council has also announced it will provide food vouchers worth up to £100 to those in need. This will be automatically given to families eligible for free school meals. The council is also distributing £50 food vouchers to support other vulnerable residents, including: Those on council tax reduction (CTR) which can be accessed through those on benefits including UC Pensioners People with severe mental impairments Care leavers Housing benefit claimants not already receiving CTR. Portsmouth Residents in Portsmouth in financial hardship and struggling to afford essentials, can apply for an exceptional hardship payment worth up to £1,000 as part of the Household Support Fund. Those on Universal Credit and other benefits can apply but you don't need to be. However the city is closing applications in just days on June 12 so you'll need to move quickly. You'll need to provide evidence of your income and bank accounts. You also need to tell what you've done to improve your financial situation and why you need help. The exact amount you receive depends on household size -the maximum amount is for six or more of £800. Whereas one person gets £350, two people £420, three people £500, four people £600, and five people £700. Households deemed to be in the highest level of need can be awarded a further £200 taking the total payment up to £1,000. Apply online at the Portsmouth city council website. Thousands of residents in Reading are in line to receive £125 vouchers in the coming weeks. Households containing children eligible for free school meals are eligible. Care levers will also be receiving a voucher payment of £125. For most care leavers this voucher will be sent to them by the Post Office, with some others being provided directly by the Leaving Care Team. Vouchers will be sent in July and December 2025 and will need to be cashed by the end of September 2025, and January 2026. Redcar & Cleveland Households in Redcar & Cleveland can now apply for support worth up to £230. How much you can get depends on different factors such as whether you have children or not. For example, if you are household without children receiving Council Tax Support you will receive a payment of £116. And if you have one or more dependent children in your household and claiming the support you will receive £230. Those with children who don't receive Council Tax Support but have a low household income and are financially struggling will also receive £230. Families living in Worcestershire can apply for cost of living cash worth £500. You'll need to be below earning limits as follows: £24,570 or less (for a single adult with no children) £31,000 or less (for all other households) You must also have no savings, unless you're of state pension age – in which case you can have up to £5,000. You can be on Universal Credit but at least one person in your household must meet ONE of the following: Be of state pension age Have a long-term diagnosed health condition or be registered disabled Have a child under four Be in receipt of DWP benefits like Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, PIP or Disability Living Allowance Be receiving support from services such as food banks, Citizens Advice, Age UK, mental health or housing support, or your GP's social prescribing team Windsor and Maidenhead Households in the Royal borough can get payments of up to £150 to ease pressures. However, the council isn't accepting applications directly instead you'll need to contact its partners. The overarching partner is Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB) and should be the first port of call for residents needing support. What if my area isn't on the list? Some councils have very limited application windows for support. If you don't see your council on the list, visit their website and look for information on the Household Support Fund. If there is a date that applications open, make a calendar note and apply as soon as it opens. Some councils will close for applications as soon as cash is distributed - in some cases this can be on the very same day that applications open. Other councils automatically give cash to those in receipt of certain benefits such as free school meals or coucil tax support. Check the Household Support Fund pages on your local council website to find details of what's on offer and how to apply. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible.
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Families on Universal Credit can apply for free cash worth £600 to help with the cost of living – are you eligible?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of households can get up to £600 of free cost of living cash. The money comes from the Government's Household Support Fund, which has given councils a share of £742million to help struggling residents. 1 Thousands of families can get free cash payments of up to £600 Credit: Getty Eligibility criteria varies depending on where you live but help is usually offered to those on benefits or a low income. Eligible households in Richmond, London, will get payments of up to £600 to help cover the cost of food, energy bills, clothes or other household essentials. Those on Universal Credit or other benefits can apply but you don't need to be receiving them to get the cash. How much you will get depends on the number of people in your household and if you have any children. Households with one or more adults could get grants of up to £300. Meanwhile, for those with one child the payment rises to £500. Or families with two children or more can get up to £600. To be eligible for the grant you must be over the age of 18 and live in the London Borough of Richmond. You also need to be struggling with the impact of rising cost of food and energy or continue to be impacted by Covid-19. This could be for a variety of reasons including: Reduced pay or lost job Benefits issues, including Universal Credit Struggling to afford food, energy costs and other essentials including white goods Extra costs as a result of Covid-19 Household Support Fund If your application is successful then you will get the grant via a BACS payment into your account or as supermarket vouchers. For more information on the grant or to apply contact Citizens Advice Richmond by calling 080 82 78 78 73. The lines are open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. You can also apply for the grant by completing an online form on the website. How to cut your bills IF you're struggling financially, you might be able to cut the cost of your bills to help you get out of the red. Council tax: You can apply for a council tax reduction on the website but you'll need to meet certain criteria. Your bill could be cut by as much as 100 per cent if you're on a low income or claim benefits. Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours a week are also exempt from paying. Water: Households might be able to save money by getting a water meter but it all depends on how much you're using. To check if it's finacially worthwhile, use the Consumer Council for Water's free ater meter calculator. Rent: If you have the space available and your landlord or local authority says it's ok to do so, you might want to consider getting a flatmate. Not only will you split the cost of the rent, but also the other bills. Hire purchase: If you're struggling to make your repayments on your hire purchase, you can usually end the contract by returning the goods. You will have to pay all the instalments due up to the time you end the agreement but this will limit the amount you owe. Contact Citizens Advice for free for more help with this. Gas and electricty: MoneySavingExpert says families can save £330 on average by switching from Standard Variable Tariffs (SVTs) to a better rate. Use a comparison site such as MoneySuperMarket or Energyhelpline to see what deals are available. Mortgage: If you get into debt with your mortgage payments, don't wait for your lender to chase you. Work out what you can afford using the Citizens Advice budgeting tool so you can discuss your payment options moving forward with your mortgage provider. Secured Loan: Your secured loan might be covered by the Consumer Credit Act and if it is, you may be able to apply for a Time Order. This is a special agreement by the courts allowing you more time to make payments. Secured loans not covered by the Consumer Credit Act include gas, electricity or water meters, payments that need to be written off in full, mortgages, credit union loans, loans from an employer and some short term trade agreements. County Court Judgements: If you receive a County Court claim form talk to a free debt advice service straight away. This includes Citizens Advice (0808 800 9060), StepChange (0800 138 1111) and the National Debtline (0808 808 4000). TV licence: Some households are eligible for a reduced fee or free TV Licence. Check here to see if you are entitled to a reduced or free rate. What other help is available? Portsmouth Portsmouth residents who are struggling to pay their bills can apply for an exceptional hardship payment worth up to £1,000. But applications close at 12 noon on June 12 so you will need to act fast. Applications may also close early if the funds have been used up. You will need to provide evidence of your income and bank accounts. You will also need to explain what you have done to improve your financial situation and why you need the help. The exact amount you receive depends on your household size. The maximum amount is £800 for six or more people. One person can get £350, two people £420, three people £500, four people £600 and five people £700. Households who are considered to have the greatest need can be awarded a further £200, bringing their total payment up to £1,000. To apply, visit the website. Somerset Thousands of households in North Somerset can apply for £100 worth of cash to help with the cost of living. The fund will see more than £2.3million handed out to struggling families, pensioners and vulnerable residents across the region. As part of this, children across North Somerset will be provided with a food voucher next month. In total, around 5,200 children who are eligible for free school meals will automatically receive a £100 food voucher in June with no application required. Hull Thousands of families in Hull can apply for £200 worth of cash this summer. The fund will be used to give eligible pensioners £200 to help them cover their costs after the Government made cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment. Meanwhile, low income families will be eligible for a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for free school meals. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
