With smart meters piling on the pounds as heating goes on across the city, the burden on household budgets continues. Help, however, is at hand with councils across the UK providing financial assistance to some under the government's Household Support Fund.
Designed to help support households through the cost of living crisis, cash is available not only to help with fuel costs but also daily essentials such as food and clothing. The scheme, launched on September 30, 2021, and is now in its third phase for Nottingham city council.
As the council accesses its share of the £500 million winter support fund, extra cash is available to vulnerable households. Each council across the UK has access to the fund and offers different levels of support. Here's what Nottingham City Council is doing with its share, how and when you can apply for the help and what additional assistance is available.
Household Support Fund - Nottingham City Council residents
While Nottingham City Council has distributed all of the existing Household Support Fund 2 budget to vulnerable residents, a new raft of cash is available to city residents under the HSF3 grant period, which runs from October 2022 to March 2023.
The council says that this next period of available funding "will continue to be used to help those most in need with energy and food through the winter months".
READ MORE: More cost of living news from Nottinghamshire Live
The government has recommended the key focus for this grant will be to support vulnerable Nottingham residents on means tested benefits or low incomes with the cost of energy to help them over the winter months.
Energy Support Vouchers – Existing applicants
If you have already been supported through a community partner or advice agency and received energy vouchers since June 2022 as part of previous scheme, you will automatically receive another £98 (2 x £49) of energy vouchers between now and the end of December. You do not need to apply. Vouchers will be sent to you in the same way as you previously received them, either via text or email or post.
Energy Support Vouchers – New Applications
If you haven’t already applied through one of the organisations listed below, and think you might be eligible of help, you can now apply for the latest round of Energy Vouchers. To apply, you should be in receipt of a means tested benefit, or on a low income.
City residents may be able to access £147 (3 x £49) of energy vouchers as well as advice and assistance to help with food, toiletries and essential supplies.
Vouchers will be allocated to those Nottingham residents who are in financial crisis and need support the most. Additional support from the fund is also being provided to the network of Food Banks across the city to help them meet the increased demand over winter months.
How to apply
Nottingham Advice Centres, Age UK Notts or Independent Age and other local community organisations including Nottingham City Homes and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing will be giving out the vouchers. Contact one of these organisations to apply for energy vouchers, or to get a referral to a food bank to help with your immediate financial needs. These organisations specialise in working with households in financial crisis and can provide advice and support.
Who might be eligible?
People who are eligible will be those in receipt of recognised means tested benefits, or some other identifier of low income, such as:
- Universal credit
- Income-based jobseekers allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- Pension credit
Free School Meals and holiday meal vouchers
Feeding growing children though the school holidays can put an extra strain on budgets especially if households usually receive free school meals during term-time. Those children who are entitled to Free School Meals will continue to receive support under the grant and get £15 Supermarket Voucher per week for Christmas and February holidays. These vouchers will be provided via schools and from EdenRed in the normal way. You can check your eligibility for FSM and apply here.
Other support available
A comprehensive directory of information on help and support available on Nottingham City Council's website - www.asklion.co.uk/money
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