THOUSANDS of hard-up households are eligible for supermarket vouchers worth up to £195 to help with the cost of living.
The support comes via the Government’s Household Support Fund, which runs from this month until March 2026.
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The fund is a central pot of money worth £742million that is shared between local authorities, who then decide who to offer the help to.
Every council has been given a different amount of money to share between their residents in need.
This means what you can get and how the money will be paid varies depending on where you live.
In Wakefield households can get supermarket vouchers worth up to £195 through the scheme.
The local authority is distributing the help in the form of supermarket vouchers.
Households in receipt of Council Tax Support will automatically be issued with the vouchers and do not need to do anything.
The payments will be made to the following groups on these dates:
Families in receipt of Council Tax Support
- £40 – April 8
- £50 – July 21
- £50 – December 15
Pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Support who get a Winter Fuel Allowance
- June 30 to July 7 – £70
- November 11 to 13 – £70
Pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Support who do not get a Winter Fuel Allowance
- June 30 to July 7 – £70
- November 4 to 6 – £125
All other households in receipt of Council Tax Support
- July 9 to 18 – £70
- December 3 to 12 – £70
Households should allow up to seven days for the vouchers to arrive.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.
You will receive a letter with instructions on how to redeem the voucher.
You do not need to spend all of the cash at once and can use it several times until the total amount has been spent.
What else will the fund cover?
The fund will also provide support to vulnerable households who need help with rising living costs, especially those who are not receiving any other cost of living support.
If you are struggling with the cost of living then the fund can help you with the following:
- Food and housekeeping such as toiletries and baby essentials
- Other essential bills including mobile phones, top ups and broadband charges
- Gas and electricity
- Clothing
- School uniforms
- White goods
- Bed and bedding
- Carpets
All of the support is provided as vouchers so no cash payments will be available.
Instead, any help with your water or phone bill will be made through a supermarket voucher, so the money you would normally spend on food can be put towards these bills.
Gas and electricity help will be made using a pre-payment top up voucher or energy card for people who pay by direct debit or other means.
Any help you get will not affect your entitlement to other benefits.
The fund cannot help with cash payments, mortgage costs, rent or housing arrears, new furniture, TVs or debt repayments.
How do I apply?
To apply you must live in the Wakefield district and be over the age of 16.
You cannot live with family or friends and must be on a low income.
You must be responsible for the rent/ mortgage and other bills for your home and not have sufficient money to pay these bills.
You also need to have less than £6,000 in savings and must provide proof of this.
You can apply through the Wakefield Council website.
What other support is available?
Households in Salford can apply for free food vouchers and fuel top up credits.
The funding launched earlier this month and will run until Tuesday September 30.
It is part one of round seven and focuses on helping Manchester residents with fuel, food and energy costs due to the cost of living crisis.
Residents can only apply once for the support.
For more information, visit the council’s website.
Meanwhile, Rotherham Council is offering free supermarket vouchers and help with rent payments.
The council is prioritising helping residents with food, energy grants and council tax relief, as well as aid for care leavers and other vulnerable groups.
Half of the funding will be spent on supermarket vouchers for the families of children eligible for free school meals.
The vouchers will be given out during the school holidays and will be worth £15 a week.
The council will also make Discretionary Housing Payments to people to help cover their rent.
The payments will be given to people on Housing benefit or who get the housing element of Universal Credit but need more help with housing costs.
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