New £200 cost of living cash payment available for UK households
Struggling families are being urged to check if they are eligible cost of living payment worth £200. The cash is being issued by Wealden District Council as part of the Household Support Fund.
The Household Support Fund is a pot of cash awarded to vulnerable households by their local council, to help with the cost of bills such as food, energy, and water.
Each council gets to decide what type of help it distributes - so whether it provides vouchers or cash - and who is eligible for support. This means the eligibility criteria does vary depending on where you live.
Wealden District Council is giving payments of £200 to people receiving Universal Credit that also includes the Housing Costs element, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, or getting Severe Mental Impairment exemption. It comes after reports DWP state pensioners are set to be given 'extra £352' completely free.
You must be aged 18 or over and a resident within the Wealden District Council local authority area. If you're eligible for a payment, the money will be sent within 14 days of your successful claim.
You can apply between now and September 30, 2025, if you did not previously receive a payment under the last round of the Household Support Fund.
A second window will open from October 1, 2025 until March 31, 2026 for any remaining eligible claims. If you're not a Wealden resident, it is worth checking what support your local council can offer you through the Household Support Fund.
For example, West Berkshire Council was awarding cash payments to households that are "in crisis" and in need of financial support. If you are in a household with three or more children, you will be awarded £300.
Households with one to two children will get £250, and other households with no children could get £150. Ribble Valley Borough Council is giving out food vouchers to eligible households that have a combined household income of less than £35,000 per year.
You can get a £200 voucher if you live alone, £300 if you live in a households with two or more adults, or £500 for households with children.
City of Doncaster Council is providing help to households that are in receipt of certain benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit and free school meals.
If you're in a household with one dependent child, you will get a £100 payment for food, while £200 will be paid for two dependent children, and £300 for three dependent children.
Hull City Council is giving £200 to pensioner households. Meanwhile, low income families will get a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for school meals.
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