Latest news with #LowIncome
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Families on benefits can apply now to get up to £120 in free cost of living cash – are you eligible?
THOUSANDS of households can now apply for cost of living cash worth up to £120. Cash-strapped families can get access to the money through the Household Support Fund (HSF). 1 The scheme has been extended several times, with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026. Every council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can give it to residents in need. Exactly how the money will be paid depends on your council but it could come in the form of free cash, vouchers or white goods. Eligibility criteria also varies depending on where you live but the help is usually available to those on benefits or a low income. Households in Middlesbrough can now apply for the support, which is worth up to £120. The money is available to help residents with energy bills, food and essential costs, such as council tax. To qualify for the support you must live at a property in Middlesbrough and be responsible for paying the council tax, rent or a mortgage. The support is being rolled out in stages to different types of residents in need. Households who get benefits and have children can now apply. Families with children who receive free school meals were automatically sent a voucher before July 9. But the cash is also available to families with a child who receives income-related free school meals and: Is aged under five, if another child in the household is eligible for free school meals. Goes to a school outside of Middlesbrough but lives in Middlesbrough. You can also apply if your child is not eligible for income-related free school meals but your household gets one of the following benefits: Council Tax Reduction Income-based Employment and Support Allowance Housing Benefit Income Support Pension Credit Universal Credit 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. Eligible households will receive a voucher for £60 per child. This means that if you have two children you could be given £120. To apply visit . It can take up to 21 working days for the council to process applications, so apply now to avoid the payment being delayed. Which other councils are also offering support? Other councils have also announced the details of their schemes. Among them is Sutton, which is offering residents support worth up to £150. To qualify for the cash you must live in the borough of Sutton and have less than £3,000 in your bank account. Meanwhile, North Somerset Council has also announced it will provide food vouchers of up to £100 to those in need. Plus, families living in Worcestershire can apply for cost of living cash worth £500. At the same time, Cheshire West Council's latest allocation of the Household Support Fund is worth £200. Keep an eye on your local council's website or social media channels to avoid missing out. .
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
DDA's Apna Ghar Awaas Yojana 2025: 850+ Flats Sold in a Month, Narela Dominates Bookings
NEW DELHI: Within a month of launching the 'Apna Ghar Awaas Yojana 2025', the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) managed to sell over 850 flats, with 630 flats or 75% of the units sold in Narela alone. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to officials, of the total flats sold, 150 were in Loknayakpuram, and 50 in Siraspur. 'The positive momentum of the scheme is particularly evident in Narela, where all 115 EWS flats in Sector A1 A4 were fully booked. Additionally, MIG flats in Loknayakpuram are almost sold out,' said the official. The scheme offered ready-to-move-in flats at discounted rates across various categories, including Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG), and High-Income Group (HIG) flats in sectors of Narela, Loknayakpuram, and Siraspur. 'It is an entirely online scheme for which registration opened on May 27. Its key features include a first-come, first-serve approach, the availability of ready-to-move-in flats, and the option for prospective buyers to visit sample flats for site inspections. Prospective homebuyers are also encouraged to visit the official DDA website, to explore the available flats and secure their preferred unit,' stated the official. "DDA has implemented several buyer-friendly measures such as an integrated online enquiry portal, enhanced communication with purchasers, and comprehensive transfer of property documentation. The authority is making the best efforts to popularise the scheme, which strategically offers a total of 7,500 units at a notable 25% discount on LIG flats and 15% on EWS, MIG, and HIG categories,' said officials. While the scheme was launched by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on May 20, he also unveiled a specialised chat-bot service for DDA housing schemes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to officials, this service provides numerous benefits to the public, including round-the-clock citizen support, improved communication, and public transparency, offering continuous assistance regarding housing schemes, applications, and allotment enquiries. 'We are simultaneously working to improve infrastructure and connectivity in and around above areas for the convenience of buyers and as per direction of LG. In Narela, DDA is coordinating with other agencies for the development of an education hub, urban extension road-2 (UER-II), and approval of the Rithala-Narela-Kundali metro rail corridor will benefit Narela. At Siraspur pocket, the location of flats is near GT Karnal Road and Samaypur Badli Metro, ensuring seamless connectivity,' said the official. The registrations for flats will continue till August 26, subject to possible extensions. People can book on the DDA website after submitting the booking amounts of Rs 50,000 for EWS flats, Rs 1 lakh for LIG flats, Rs 4 lakh for MIG flats, and Rs 10 lakh for HIG flats. People can do the booking online for the scheme. Residential units offered included 564 LIG flats in Siraspur, along with 150 LIG and 96 MIG flats in Loknayakpuram. In Narela, the available units consist of 694 EWS flats, 5,384 LIG flats, 386 MIG flats, and 226 HIG flats.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New numbers show California's affordability crisis is getting worse
California's affordability crisis is getting worse, new data show California's affordability crisis is getting worse, new data show California's affordability crisis is getting worse, new data show SACRAMENTO — New figures released by the California Department of Housing and Community Development show that low-income eligibility for affordability housing is surging. In some California counties, even a six-figure salary qualifies for low-income housing programs. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County's low-income eligibility level for individuals jumped 8.8% from last year to $111,700, while San Francisco's and San Mateo's remained at $109,700. A $72,050 salary now qualifies as low income in one-person households in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado counties. That's an 8.7% increase from one year ago. For Los Angeles County, the low-income level jumped to $84,850, while further south in San Diego County, it's set at $92,700, both 8.8% increases. In San Joaquin County, the new low-income level is listed at $58,600, and in Stanislaus, it's $55,200. Cam Villa is a Sacramento home loan broker. He said he uses the annual report to help his clients "so it sets the rules on who can apply for some income-based loan programs." "It seems like a great living or you would be able to make that as a successful living, but when you talk about rents, grocery prices, I see a lot of credit reports with car payments above $1,000 a month," Villa said. "There are a lot of factors that weigh into this." It's been a curveball for Chelsea Carmack, who was recently hired at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. She moved here from St. Louis to find the shocking price changes. Finding an affordable place to live was hard. "I love the weather," Carmack said. "As far as finding housing, it's been very challenging to adapt to the higher cost of living." For Carmack, it's making for a different kind of California Dream. "To survive," she said.
