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Arab News
21 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi charity gives $2.8m to families in June
RIYADH: The Charitable Society for Orphan Care in Riyadh, known as Insan, transferred SR10.5 million ($2.8 million) to the accounts of beneficiary families in early June, reaching 35,131 individuals. The distribution included direct cash payments, clothing allowances, and food provisions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. Half of the total amount was allocated to food supplies, with the remainder dedicated to financial aid and clothing, the SPA added. Insan follows a systematic approach, crediting beneficiary accounts at the start of each month to ensure consistent support. The organization also offers educational programs, activities, targeted initiatives, skill-building, and vocational training to empower children and enhance their quality of life. Its efforts align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, aiming to transition families from dependency to productivity and self-sufficiency.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Hard-up households to get up to £150 in free cost of living cash
HARD-UP households can get up to £150 in free cost of living cash. Cash-strapped households can get access to money through the Household Support Fund (HSF). 1 The scheme has been extended multiple times with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026. Each council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can distribute it to residents in need. Eligibility criteria varies based on where you live but usually help is offered to those on benefits or a low income. Eligible households in Leeds will get payments of up to £150 to help. How much you will be given depends on factors like if you are a pensioner or if you have dependent children. All claimants must also be in receipt of Council Tax Support, a scheme where those on a low income or benefits can get money off the bill. The payment will be £125 to households with dependent children and £50 to all households without. Meanwhile, some pensioner households who are eligible for Council Tax Support but not the Winter Fuel Payment will receive £150. The £300 benefit was previously available to everyone aged 66 but cuts made by Labour now mean only those on means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit get the help. Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ease cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, - however the PM was sparse on details about when the changes might take place. Cash for Care Leeds council said those who are eligbile for the support will recieve the payment in the autumn and winter. The council also said it would be in direct contact with those who meet the criteria. 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, APPLY FOR A COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax. Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live. Also it does not matter whether you own your home or rent, anyone who is struggling financially can apply. You need to apply for a reduction via your local councils website. To make a claim, will need to provide the council with information on your earnings and what pensions, benefits, allowances and tax credits you receive. To find where your local council is visit In some instances your bill could be reduced by 100%, meaning you don't have to pay anything. You could also get a deferral if you're struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost. Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount. If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings. And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too. Again, to claim this, you will need to contact your local council. WHAT IF I DON'T LIVE IN LEEDS The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. For example, North Somerset Council has also announced it will provide food vouchers worth up to £100 to those in need. And, families living in Worcestershire can apply for cost of living cash worth £500. Meanwhile, Cheshire West Council's latest allocation of the Household Support Fund is worth £200. Hartlepool council is also distributing £100 food vouchers to all children eligible for free school meals aged between two and 19. But even if you don't live in these areas but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help. 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. 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
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands of households being handed free cost of living cash worth £200
THOUSANDS of UK households will soon be able to apply for £200 worth of cash to cover the cost of living, after a government scheme was extended. The help comes as part of the Government's Household Support Fund, and aims to aid those who are most vulnerable. 1 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 Hull will soon be able to benefit from the scheme, after the Yorkshire council was allocated £5.3 million of the fund. The fund will be used to give eligible pensioners £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 meals. The Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross, said: 'We know that people are continuing to be severely impacted by the ongoing increases in the cost of living. 'As a Council, we're using this funding to help vulnerable residents afford the essentials. 'No-one should have to make the choice between heating or eating when we get to the colder months, so we've allocated this money now to make sure we have the right things in place for the next year.' Hull City Council has not yet opened applications for payments, but updates will be posted on the council's website. Child Benefit cap, Lloyds fee changes and Father's Day gift ideas - Money News Today What If I Don't Live In Hull? The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. So, if you don't live in Hull but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help. 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. 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. 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.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands of hard-up households eligible for free cash worth £100 to cover cost of living
THOUSANDS of struggling households are eligible for free cash worth £100 to cover the cost of living. The help comes via the Household Support Fund, a £742million pot of money that has been shared between English councils. 1 Local authorities then have to decide how to distribute their share of the fund before March 31, 2026. Hartlepool Borough Council has been given £1.75million to share between hard-up households. The local authority is giving £40,000 to Hartlepool Food Bank to distribute food parcels across the borough and £90,000 to Citizens Advice to help residents struggling with their energy bills. But, it is also distributing £100 food vouchers to all children eligible for free school meals aged between two and 19. Meanwhile, £100 bank payments or food vouchers will be shared between pensioners on council tax support. Details on how either of the £100 payments will be distributed are yet to be revealed. However, if you meet the criteria, you will likely be contacted by Hartlepool Council about when to expect them or any next steps. We have also contacted Hartlepool Council to find out when families with children on free school meals and eligible pensioners will receive the payments and will update this story when we have heard back. Councillor Brenda Harrison, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: 'We know that a lot of households across the borough are struggling financially, and we hope that these measures will help to bring them some much-needed relief and ease the pressure they are currently under. 'This demonstrates the Council's on-going commitment and determination to tackle financial hardship and to improve the lives of Hartlepool residents." Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Can I get help if I live outside Hartlepool? Put simply, yes. However, it will depend on your circumstances and where you live. The Household Support Fund was set up to help households cover essentials such as energy or water bills and food costs. But, each council can set its own eligibility criteria meaning whether you qualify for help is a postcode lottery. That said, funding is aimed at anyone who's vulnerable or struggling to pay for essentials. So, if you are financially hard-up or on benefits, it is likely you will be able to get help. It's worth bearing in mind, any help you receive via the Household Support Fund won't affect your benefit payments. The type of help on offer varies from supermarket vouchers to direct cash payments into your bank account. Some councils are allocating their share of the fund to community groups and charities who you have to get in touch with. 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. If you're on benefits, have limited savings, or are struggling to cover food and energy bills, it's worth seeing if you're eligible for help. Contact your local council and see if you have to apply or whether support is being distributed automatically. You can find what council area you fall under by using the government's council locator tool - Other help if you're on a low income It's not just the Household Support Fund you can lean on if you're struggling to cover the cost of essentials like energy bills or food. You might be able to get free money covering the cost of food if you're on benefits through the Healthy Start scheme. The scheme is open to pregnant women and families with young children on low incomes. You get a prepaid card which you top up and can use to buy healthy foods for your kids at the supermarket. You can get £8.50 per week for newborns up to one-year-olds - worth £442 a year. Find out more via Meanwhile, several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000. This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF. It's also worth checking if you're eligible for benefits if you haven't already - billions of pounds worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Household can apply now to get up to £125 in free cost of living cash
THOUSANDS of households can cash in on a free £125 payment to help with the cost of living. The cash support comes through the government's Household Support Fund. 1 The scheme works by handing councils up and down the country a slice of funding available to dish out to Brits 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. For example, 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. If you're not eligible for the automatic support above, you can still make an application for a £100 cash grant directly into your bank account. The discretionary application-based element of HSF is focused on supporting Reading residents on low incomes and those who are struggling to meet the rising cost of living. Households in receipt of means-tested benefits or other related state benefits (such as a PIP) are automatically assumed to have a low income. For residents who aren't receiving any income-based or other state benefits but have specific circumstances that have negatively impacted their overall cost of living (such as unexpected or increased expenditures), a high-level income, expenditure, and savings assessment will be conducted within the application. Applicants with savings above £2000 will not be eligible for a discretionary payment. Support will be prioritised to households who fall into one or more of the following categories: Residents above state pension age Carers People with disabilities People living alone Residents with unsecure employment Large households People with energy-inefficient homes Households with prepayment energy meters Residents in private rented accommodation Victims of crime Veterans To apply for the discretionary support visit 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. What if I don't live in Reading? The £742million Household Support Fund has been allocated to councils across England to help residents facing financial hardship. You do not need to live in Reading to apply. If you're on a low income, receiving benefits, or struggling to afford essentials, you may be eligible for support. The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills. Applications are handled by local councils. Some have already opened their schemes, while others are expected to launch soon. 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. In some cases, councils may contact eligible households directly by post. What other help is available? If you're not eligible for the Household Support Fund, there are still other ways to get financial support. First, check if you're missing out on benefits. Every year, billions of pounds in benefits go unclaimed - and you could be entitled to more than you think. There are free online tools that can help you find out what you're owed: Policy in Practice – Better Off Calculator Entitledto Benefits Calculator Turn2us Benefits Calculator If energy bills are piling up, you might qualify for a grant to help clear your arrears. Both British Gas and Octopus Energy offer financial assistance to customers in difficulty, with some schemes wiping as much as £2,000 off unpaid energy debts — depending on your situation. It's worth checking directly with your supplier or visiting their website for eligibility details. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
