Thousands of struggling households could receive up to £500 worth of cash and vouchers this January to help with the cost of living.
The money is given through the Household Support Fund which is a Government -funded scheme which aims to help vulnerable households.
As part of the scheme, local councils are given a pot of money which they can give away however they see fit, this can be in the form of free cash, supermarket vouchers, energy bill support, and white appliance replacements.
A number of councils have reopened the application process for their Household Support Fund and some of these areas include Leicester City, Bromley, Colchester, Plymouth and Dudley.
As the funding is discretionary, the amount households can receive is dependent on what local councils are offering.
In Colchester, residents can get cash of between £200 and £500 whilst Blackpool Council is offering between £200 and £300 worth of support to qualifying households
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is offering hard-up households up to £350 in cash and Dudley Council is offering one-off payments of £150 which you do not need ot pay back.
Plymouth Council is offering households £180 in supermarket vouchers for either Asda, Morrisons or Tesco, up to £150 worth of energy vouchers, and essential white appliance replacements.
To get the help you will need to apply for the fund directly through your local council and eligibility requirements will vary depending on where you live.
Each council will have their criteria on its website so you can check to see if you can claim the financial help.
Usually, it tends to be assessed by your financial ability to meet basic needs and for the majority of councils, you will need to be over 16 or 18 years to apply.
Certain councils also require that you have claimed one form of Department for Work and Pension (DWP) or HMRC benefit first, and most will reject your application if you have savings.
You will need your national insurance number to apply, as well as details of your household makeup, your earnings and expenses. Some councils will also ask for proof of why you need the support.
The Household Support Fund was first introduced in September 2021 and was due to run until 31 March 2022, however, it has been extended several times since then with it now planned to close in March 2024.
