Households being handed £300 cost of living cash NOW – are you eligible?
The help comes as part of the Government's Household Support Fund, and aims to aid those who are most vulnerable.
The scheme has been extended a number of times, with the latest round of payments running between April 2025 and March 2026.
Each council in England is allocated a portion of the £742 million fund, which it then distributes to residents struggling with the rising cost of living.
Eligibility criteria varies based on where you live but usually help is offered to those on benefits or a low income.
Thousands of households in West Berkshire will soon be able to benefit from the scheme, after the local council was allocated a chunk of the fund.
The money will be used to give eligible households £300 to help them with the rising cost of living.
Low income families with three or more children will receive a maximum of £300, while families with one to two children will be offered up to £250.
Others will receive a maximum of £150.
West Berkshire Council will also provide free school meal vouchers during the holidays.
Eligible children will receive a total of three weeks of support to cover the holiday period and February half term.
Vouchers will need to be collected at the child's school.
Disability benefit explained - what you can claim
The fund will also go towards supporting pensioners via targeted assistance.
Eligible residents can apply to get their hands on some of the money via the council's form.
What If I Don't Live In West Berkshire?
The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England.
So, if you don't live in West Berkshire but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help.
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 £742million 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.
The current round runs until the end of March 2026.
This is because the fund was originally set up to help those on low incomes or classed as vulnerable.
What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers.
It's worth bearing in mind, because the new round of the HSF has only just opened, you might not be able to apply for help yet.
However, it's worth keeping an eye on your local council's website or social media channels.
Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to their HSF as well.
You might be able to find it by typing in the name of your council then "Household Support Fund" into Google search.
You may have to apply for help through the HSF or you may be contacted directly by your council.
Some local authorities send letters to your home to let you know about next steps you need to take.
Other help if you're on a low income
It's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits if you haven't already - it could boost your bank balance by thousands of pounds a year.
If you're struggling with the cost of food, check where your nearest food bank is, to help you get cupboard staples for less.
The Trussell Trust has hundreds of food banks across the UK, and you can find your nearest one here - trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.
Meanwhile, if you have fallen behind on your energy bills, you might be able to get a grant to wipe any debt.
British Gas and Octopus Energy, the UK's two biggest energy firms, both run schemes offering customers grants worth up to £2,000.
You might be able to apply for a free grant through a local charity as well.
Charity Turn2Us has a free-to-use grants search tool on its website which you can find here - grants-search.turn2us.org.uk.
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