THOUSANDS of households will be able to apply for free £150 supermarket vouchers in the latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF).
Applications will reopen at 10am on Thursday, October 5 for low-income households in the Dorset Council area.
The Department for Work and Pensions have funded the government scheme to ensure households are provided support.
Citizens Advice will be allocating the supermarket vouchers on behalf of Dorset Council and issue them to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within 6-8 weeks.
If you don't know what council area you fall under, you can use the Government's council locator tool on its website - you just have to enter your postcode.
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The vouchers can be spent at a number of supermarkets. Here is the full list:
- Asda
- Aldi
- B&M
- Farmfoods
- Iceland
- M&S
- Morrisons
- Sainsbury's
- Tesco
- Waitrose
In order to apply for the supermarket vouchers, households must have:
- an annual household net income of less than £30,000 and
- savings of less than £16,000 and
- not applied for a previous HSF payment within the last 6 months
Calculations for the annual net income should not include Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance or Child Benefit.
Applications are limited to one per household.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by Citizens Advice.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming fourth round of the Household Support Fund, Councillor Laura Beddow said efforts are being made to ensure essentials are easily accessible for residents.
She said: “In a continued effort to support low-income households, Round 4 of the Household Support Fund reopens on Thursday 5 October, offering essential assistance through supermarket vouchers.
"We’re here to ensure that Dorset Council residents have access to the essentials they need.
“If you do miss out on this window, another will open on Thursday 2 November at 10am.”
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Residents have been advised to apply online, with the application form opening at 10am on Thursday via the Dorset Council website.
More details including future application window dates can be found here.
If you need help completing the form, you can telephone Customer Services on 01305 221000 or visit a customer access point.
If you don't live in the Dorset Council area, then there are other ways in which you can receive help - dependent on where you live.
But, in most cases, you will receive help if you are on a low income or benefits.
