THOUSANDS of hard-up households have just hours left to apply for up to £300 free cash.
Residents in Bedford, Harrow and Powys have until tomorrow (February 28) to apply for the financial support which forms part of the Household Support Fund.
Residents have house left to apply for the free cashAlamy
Claimants must have submitted their application by the deadline or they’ll miss out.
People living within the Powys Council district have until 5pm but Bedford and Harrow have not provided a cut-off time.
If you’re still yet to apply then it’s best to submit your application now to avoid disappointment.
The help is being dished out under the new round of £421million funding given by the government to the Household Support Fund.
The money has been shared between local councils, which have been allocating it to households in need.
The latest tranche of funding has been available to councils from October 1, 2022, until March 31, 2023.
Each council has been given a different portion of the fund and is deciding who to give help to – so what you can get will vary depending on where you live.
But, in most cases, support is offered to households on a low income or benefits.
What is each council offering?
Bedford Borough Council is giving out £85 free cash to spend on energy and water bills as well as food.
More than 50% of the funding will go to families with children who qualify for free school meals – though many more will qualify.
Applicants must be over the age of 18, have recourse to public funds, live in the area and be struggling with costs of the above.
They must also receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction but not receiving any of the following benefits:
Pension CreditsUniversal Credit Child Tax CreditsWorking Tax CreditsIncome SupportIncome Related Employment and Support AllowanceIncome Based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You can apply for the cash via the council’s website, you’ll need to use a passcode which you should have received in a letter about the scheme.
While those living within the Harrow Council area, in London, can get £300 in cash.
Harrow had originally set a deadline of January 31 but extended it to tomorrow.
To be eligible for the £300 one-off payment from Harrow Council, you will need to have become entitled to a number of qualifying means-tested benefits between May 26, 2022 and September 30, 2022.
This includes Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit and Income Support.
You can apply if you were entitled to a number of disability benefits between May 26 and September 30 last year too.
This includes Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and War Pension Mobility Supplement.
You can’t apply if you have received the £650 cost of living payment, the £150 cost of living disability payment, or a £100 voucher under the Household Support Fund.
The full list of eligibility criteria is available on Harrow Council’s website – so you check on there to see if you can claim.
Plus, Powys Council is offering a one-off payment of £200 to help with the cost of living.
Residents will have been contacted to apply for the grant – so you may have had something already – but you must apply by February 28.
To qualify, you or your partner must have been receiving one of the following benefits between September 1, 2022 and January 31:
Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS)Income SupportIncome Based Job Seekers AllowanceIncome Related Employment and Support AllowanceUniversal CreditWorking Tax CreditsChild Tax CreditsPension CreditPersonal Independence Payment (PIP)Disability Living Allowance (DLA)Attendance AllowanceCarers Allowance including anyone on underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance but who don’t receive any money due to the overlapping benefit rulesContributory Based/New Style Jobseekers AllowanceContributory Based/New Style Employment and Support AllowanceArmed Forces Independence PaymentConstant Attendance AllowanceWar Pension Mobility Supplement
You can apply on the Powys County Council website and payments are expected to be made in March.
Can I get help if I don’t live in these boroughs?
Yes, even if you don’t live in Harrow, Powys or Bedford you should still be able to get help.
But what you can get and who is eligible is a bit of a postcode lottery as each council is deciding how to distribute their portion of the HSF.
In some areas, councils have run out of money to give to eligible households too.
How the help is being distributed depends on where you live.
Some councils are handing out vouchers to be used to help people pay for energy bills, food and other everyday essentials.
Whereas in other areas, local authorities are transferring money directly into bank accounts.
You might have a deadline to apply for any help in your area – you should check with your council if you’re not sure.
Bromley Council is offering thousands of struggling households £200 energy bill vouchers.
Plus, thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are also due electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.
What help can I get if I’m struggling?
Millions of households started receiving a £400 energy bill discount from October 1.
Households will have already received a £66 energy bill discount in October, November and £67 in December.
There will also be a payment worth £67 in January, February and March.
Between November 2022 and March 2023, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” is being paid out to eight million households.
It is being given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]