THOUSANDS of hard-up households can claim an £80 free cost of living payment towards energy and food bills.
The cash support is available through the government's Household Support Fund.
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.
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For example, thousands of residents in Stockton-on-Tees are in line to receive £80 cash vouchers in the coming weeks.
If you are eligible for council tax reduction, you will receive a £80 voucher, which can be exchanged for money, to help pay for energy and food costs.
Working-age households entitled to council tax reduction will receive an £80 voucher by the end of June.
Residents who are pensionable age and entitled to council tax reduction will receive their vouchers by the end of July.
There is no need to apply for the payment and the vouchers can be exchanged for cash at any PayPoint outlet.
You can find your local PayPoint outlet by visiting www.consumer.paypoint.com.
People aged 18 to 25 years who have left care will also receive a voucher worth £80.
The council is also offering discretionary payments of £80 to low-income, energy-paying households who do not receive council tax reduction.
You may be eligible for this payment if:
- You live in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees
- Your household does not get Council Tax Reduction
- You are liable to pay the household energy bills or prepayment meters
- Your total net weekly household income does not exceed £425 for a single person, £525 for a couple, or £625 for a family
You can apply for the discretionary payment by visiting www.digital.stockton.gov.uk/household-support-fund-2024.
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What if I don't live in Stockton-on-Tees?
To get the help, you'll need to check with your council - as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you've found your council, there should be information on how to apply on its website.
Each council will have a different application process - so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary.
Some councils won't require you to apply for the help and they'll contact you about it instead if you qualify.
If there's no information on your council's website, then it's best to ring them up and ask for more information.
What are other councils offering?
Residents in Blackpool can receive up to £300 in support from the Household Support Fund.
Those living in Bracknell Forest could be eligible for a £315 cash grant.
Low-income households in Cambridgeshire can apply for a financial award of £110 per household.
Those living in Falkirk in receipt of a council tax reduction, housing benefit, Universal Credit, income support, jobseekers allowance or pension credit can apply for up to £470 in cash support.
Middlesborough is awarding hard-up families up to £70.
Rutland County Council will provide one payment of £200 to care leavers this month.