THOUSANDS of households can get up to £600 of free cost of living cash.
The money comes from the Government’s Household Support Fund, which has given councils a share of £742million to help struggling residents.
Eligibility criteria varies depending on where you live but help is usually offered to those on benefits or a low income.
Eligible households in Richmond, London, will get payments of up to £600 to help cover the cost of food, energy bills, clothes or other household essentials.
Those on Universal Credit or other benefits can apply but you don’t need to be receiving them to get the cash.
How much you will get depends on the number of people in your household and if you have any children.
Households with one or more adults could get grants of up to £300.
Meanwhile, for those with one child the payment rises to £500.
Or families with two children or more can get up to £600.
To be eligible for the grant you must be over the age of 18 and live in the London Borough of Richmond.
You also need to be struggling with the impact of rising cost of food and energy or continue to be impacted by Covid-19.
This could be for a variety of reasons including:
Reduced pay or lost job Benefits issues, including Universal Credit Struggling to afford food, energy costs and other essentials including white goods Extra costs as a result of Covid-19If your application is successful then you will get the grant via a BACS payment into your account or as supermarket vouchers.
For more information on the grant or to apply contact Citizens Advice Richmond by calling 080 82 78 78 73. The lines are open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
You can also apply for the grant by completing an online form on the richmond.gov.uk website.
How to cut your bills
IF you're struggling financially, you might be able to cut the cost of your bills to help you get out of the red.
Council tax: You can apply for a council tax reduction on the Gov.uk website but you’ll need to meet certain criteria. Your bill could be cut by as much as 100 per cent if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours a week are also exempt from paying.
Water: Households might be able to save money by getting a water meter but it all depends on how much you’re using. To check if it’s finacially worthwhile, use the Consumer Council for Water’s free ater meter calculator.
Rent: If you have the space available and your landlord or local authority says it’s ok to do so, you might want to consider getting a flatmate. Not only will you split the cost of the rent, but also the other bills.
Hire purchase: If you’re struggling to make your repayments on your hire purchase, you can usually end the contract by returning the goods. You will have to pay all the instalments due up to the time you end the agreement but this will limit the amount you owe. Contact Citizens Advice for free for more help with this.
Gas and electricty: MoneySavingExpert says families can save £330 on average by switching from Standard Variable Tariffs (SVTs) to a better rate. Use a comparison site such as MoneySuperMarket or Energyhelpline to see what deals are available.
Mortgage: If you get into debt with your mortgage payments, don’t wait for your lender to chase you. Work out what you can afford using the Citizens Advice budgeting tool so you can discuss your payment options moving forward with your mortgage provider.
Secured Loan: Your secured loan might be covered by the Consumer Credit Act and if it is, you may be able to apply for a Time Order. This is a special agreement by the courts allowing you more time to make payments. Secured loans not covered by the Consumer Credit Act include gas, electricity or water meters, payments that need to be written off in full, mortgages, credit union loans, loans from an employer and some short term trade agreements.
County Court Judgements: If you receive a County Court claim form talk to a free debt advice service straight away. This includes Citizens Advice (0808 800 9060), StepChange (0800 138 1111) and the National Debtline (0808 808 4000).
TV licence: Some households are eligible for a reduced fee or free TV Licence. Check here to see if you are entitled to a reduced or free rate.
What other help is available?
Portsmouth
Portsmouth residents who are struggling to pay their bills can apply for an exceptional hardship payment worth up to £1,000.
But applications close at 12 noon on June 12 so you will need to act fast.
Applications may also close early if the funds have been used up.
You will need to provide evidence of your income and bank accounts.
You will also need to explain what you have done to improve your financial situation and why you need the help.
The exact amount you receive depends on your household size.
The maximum amount is £800 for six or more people.
One person can get £350, two people £420, three people £500, four people £600 and five people £700.
Households who are considered to have the greatest need can be awarded a further £200, bringing their total payment up to £1,000.
To apply, visit the portsmouth.gov.uk website.
Somerset
Thousands of households in North Somerset can apply for £100 worth of cash to help with the cost of living.
The fund will see more than £2.3million handed out to struggling families, pensioners and vulnerable residents across the region.
As part of this, children across North Somerset will be provided with a food voucher next month.
In total, around 5,200 children who are eligible for free school meals will automatically receive a £100 food voucher in June with no application required.
Hull
Thousands of families in Hull can apply for £200 worth of cash this summer.
The fund will be used to give eligible pensioners £200 to help them cover their costs after the Government made cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Meanwhile, low income families will be eligible for a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for free school meals.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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