PEOPLE are being urged to check whether they could get an extra £270 direct payment landing in thousands of bank accounts to help with the cost of living.
Council chiefs have revealed which new families should benefit from the government's £842million Household Support Fund scheme.
Local authorities have been given their own leeway to decide whether to distribute the extra cash - and, if so, who to.
Shropshire County Council has now decided to dole out £270 payments to vulnerable families to help with such essentials as food and energy bills.
The government programme aimed at helping with the rising cost of living is scheduled to run until the end of March next year.
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The latest tranche of payments should go towards about 6,000 low-income households in Shropshire in the West Midlands.
But there are conditions and anyone eligible will have to meet certain categories.
Those who could receive the payments include pensioners who receive council tax support but not pension credit guarantee credit.
Families who get council tax support can also claim if they get a carer's allowance or else have a child or a non-dependent getting disability benefits.
Also eligible are households where there is a carer's disregard or a disabled band relief on their council tax.
Money is being sent to people's bank accounts automatically if the local authority already has their payment details.
Others have been told to expect letters inviting them to apply.
The council said on its website: "We're currently processing all of the eligible Household Support Fund applications that we've received."
Meanwhile, Shropshire County Council is also promising meal vouchers over school holidays for children who get benefits-related free school meals.
Some 7,500 kids are believed to benefit from this support, equivalent to £15 per week, the Mirror reported.
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People living elsewhere in England have been encouraged to check local council websites for info on any similar Household Support Fund payments which might be on offer.
Kent County Council is providing £100 food vouchers, while Dorset County Council has made available £150 supermarket tokens.
Payments worth £300 have been made available in West Northamptonshire, while there have been offers of £200 in Nottinghamshire.
Ribble Valley Council in Lancashire has begun accepting applications for vouchers worth up to £500.
And thousands of people in North Yorkshire received electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.
But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has threatened Britons will be tracked and face losing benefits if they break rules and don't look for jobs when fit for work.
Mr Hunt, due to deliver his Autumn Statement next Wednesday, has mooted a benefits change which could see millions miss out.
