4 days ago
Thousands of people will get free £140 cash in their bank accounts – are you eligible?
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THOUSANDS of households are set to get free cash payments of £140 landing in their bank accounts in the coming months.
Cornwall Council has revealed it will be making the payments to struggling households in the area through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
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The cash payments will be made automatically to people who meet the eligibility criteria
The HSF is a £742million Government fund shared between councils in England.
Councils are currently in the process of distributing their share of the fund - but what support you can get varies depending on where you live.
Cornwall Council has received £7.9million in the latest round of funding, which will run until March 31, 2026.
The funding will be used to provide one-off cash payments for households and will land in bank accounts over the next three months.
The payments are aimed at helping people struggling to afford energy and water bills, food and other essentials.
They will be made automatically by the end of November this year.
Unlike with some councils, you won't need to apply to get the payments.
The payments are worth £140 each and they'll be sent out to:
Pensioner households who are receiving Council Tax Support
Adults who need home care and receive help towards the costs from the council
Families who receive Council Tax Support and have children. You'll get £140 per child in this case
Families living in emergency accommodation that has been organised by Cornwall Council's Housing Options service. Again you'll receive £140 per child.
You'll be assessed based on whether you meet this eligibility criteria on September 30.
Household Support Fund
So if you think you might be eligible for this support there is still some time to apply.
If you are not currently receiving Council Tax Support but are on a low income and think you may qualify, you can get more information on Cornwall Council's Benefits and Support pages online.
You can check if you're entitled to Council Tax Support or other financial help using the council's Benefits and Budgeting Calculator.
If you're eligible for a Household Support Fund payment you'll receive a letter or email from the council in November.
It will tell you how much you'll be paid and how you'll receive the payment.
You won't be asked to complete any online forms or provide any bank details.
The remaining money from the fund will be sent to the council's partner organisations to help people struggling.
They include Age UK Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Community Energy Plus, Citizens Advice Cornwall, Disability Cornwall and IoS, and Cornwall Carers Service.
You can get in touch with one of these organisations if you need support.
What about if I don't live in Cornwall?
You may still be eligible to get support through the HSF if you don't live in Cornwall.
But whether you're eligible and what support you can get depends on where you live.
This is because each council decides how it will spend the money.
The Household Support Fund, which was first established in 2021, is designed to help those on low incomes, benefits or classed as vulnerable.
So if you fit into any of these three categories, the chances are you will qualify for support.
The best thing to do is visit your local council's website where most have a page dedicated to the Household Support Fund.
Or, you can contact your local council's customer service helpline to inquire.
The latest round of Household Support Fund runs until March 31, 2026, and some councils have already opened up for applications.
Households in Birmingham are being urged to apply for £200 payments.
Meanwhile, low income households in North Northamptonshire can apply for supermarket vouchers worth up to £320.
