THOUSANDS of households are in line for a £250 free cash payment into their bank account.
The support comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421 million.
The pot of money from Government has been shared between local councils.
But each local authority decides how to allocate their portion of the fund so what you will get depends on where you live.
In most cases, the help is given to households on benefits or a low income.
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In Kensington and Chelsea, London, households are being offered £250 direct into their bank accounts to help pay for food, energy and water bills.
The direct fund is available to residents struggling with household bills, food and clothing.
If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction you must not be getting the following benefits to qualify for the direct fund:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Can I get help if I don't like in Kensington and Chelsea?
Yes you can. Your local council will likely have its own version of the scheme going and you should get in contact with them to find out more.
But be quick - applications for HSF are normally done on a first-come-first-serve basis. You don't want to miss out and be disappointed.
And remember what you get will depend on your situation, and not every council will hand cash out the same way.
For example, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is paying out up to £230 into thousands of people's bank accounts.
But only if you're receiving Council Tax Support.
You should check with your local council to see what help you might be in line for.
If you don't know what council area you fall under, you can use the government's council locator tool online.
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Just type "find my local council" into Google and it should be the first link that appears on the page.
What other help can I get?
There's always plenty of help to get even if you don't qualify for HSF.
A number of energy providers for example, including British Gas, E.On and EDF, offer grants worth up to £1,500.
You should contact yours if you are finding it hard to keep up with payments.
And keep in mind the Warm Home Discount is being paid out, although it's ending this month. It's a £150 one off payment towards your energy bills paid to eligible households between October and March each year.
There are different ways to qualify for the scheme, but if you live in England and Wales you have to either:
- be receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- be on a low income and have high energy costs
Beyond March 31, you can still get help with energy bills if you are struggling with payments.
For example, the £301 cost of living payment will be hitting bank accounts between April 25 and May 17.
It's part of the big £900 payment going out this year, which will arrive in three parts - the remaining two, worth £300 and £299 will be made this autumn and in spring 2024 respectively.
