THOUSANDS of hard-up households can apply for £150 free cash to help them cover the cost of food, fuel and energy within hours.
The cash is available through the government’s Household Support Fund.
Every council in England has been allocated a portion of the £742million fund to hand out to residents in need.
The scheme has been extended several times, with the current round of funding on offer between April 2025 and March 2026.
Whether you are eligible and how to apply varies depending on where you live, but the free cash or vouchers are usually on offer for those who are on a low income.
Struggling households in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will soon be able to apply for the free cash, which is worth £150.
The application window opens at 9am on December 8 and closes at 4:30pm on January 30.
To qualify you must:
- Live in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area
- Be over the age of 16 and living independently of parents or carers
- Not have enough money to pay for the essentials
- Be able to provide proof of your identity, council residency and household financial information, including a summary for every person in your household who is not in full-time education
- Be able to provide proof of income, such as a recent bank statement.
The council warned that demand for the grant is high, so it may take eight weeks for your application to be processed.
Receiving the cash is not guaranteed and your application could be rejected due to a lack of available funds.
It said it will make every effort to support as many eligible applications as possible.
But the council warned that funds are often limited compared to the volume of applications received.
The vouchers will only be issued to the named applicant, or the person nominated by them to receive vouchers on their behalf.
For more information and to apply visit citizensadvicebcp.org.uk.
What other support is available?
The Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England.
So if you don’t live in the area but are on benefits or struggling financially then you are likely to be eligible for help.
The fund was originally set up to help those on a low income or who are classed as vulnerable.
The support on offer will depend on your council but could include free cash, supermarket or energy vouchers.
For example, Islington Council in London is giving away one-off payments of £200.
Meanwhile, the City of Doncaster Council is offering Household Support Fund payments to those who receive housing benefit, the housing element of Universal Credit, a local council tax reduction or means-tested free school meals.
Childless households can get £100.
Meanwhile, those with one dependant child can get £100 or £200 if they have two dependant children and £300 for three dependant children.
The council will either send eligible residents a cheque or send the money straight to their bank accounts.
Plus, Cambridgeshire County Council is also giving out £110 to households on low incomes.
This could be as a direct bank transfer or a supermarket energy voucher, depending on your preference.
Whether you qualify will depend on your circumstances.
For example, single adults with no children could qualify if they earn less than £24,876 a year.
But a couple with two children could be eligible if their household’s income is less than £42,418.
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £742million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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