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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Ruby Flanagan

Thousands of struggling households can get up to £650 in free cash – how to claim

Households in certain areas of the UK could be able to claim free cash worth up to £650 to help with the rising cost of living.

The money is available through the Government's Household Support Fund which gave local councils a cut of £421million to help households struggling the most.

Each council gets a different amount of funding depending on its size, population and need, and each local authority decides how they spend their pot of cash.

The majority of councils are using the funding to help households who are on benefits or have a low income.

If you live in Manchester, the local council is giving eligible households up to £650 in free cash to help with living costs.

According to Manchester council's criteria, you are eligible to get the full £650 if you claim Housing Benefit and no other Department for Work and Pension (DWP) or HMRC benefits.

You also can't have received the Government's £650 Cost of LIving payment last year.

Manchester residents who received Council Tax Support on November 17 last year and have at least five people living in their home on that day are able to receive a free payment of £400.

You can also get a payment of £326 or £324 if you didn't get the first Cost of Living payment in July but have since become entitled to Pension Credit or Universal Credit.

You can also claim this amount if you live in a park home, houseboat, or off-grid and did not qualify for the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme payment.

If you think you are eligible to claim this help then you can apply through Manchester Council's website but you will need to do it quickly as you only have until March 31 to apply.

Other areas are also offering support like this, residents of Exeter can claim a payment of £650 and those living in Harrow can get £300.

Harrow council's scheme is currently open for applications and will close on February 28 2023 and to be eligible you must have been claiming a certain benefit during a specific period last year.

Eligible Exeter residents should've received a letter through the post of the cash voucher which can be redeemed at the Post Office.

Luton Borough Council provides supermarket vouchers as part of their Household Support scheme with eligible residents able to claim between £100 to £500 worth of vouchers.

Plymouth City Council is also offering supermarket vouchers of up to £180 which can be spent at either Asda, Morrisons, or Tesco.

North Yorkshire County Council is also offering supermarket e-vouchers of up to £325 through their Household Support fund which can be spent in Aldi, Asda, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Waitrose.

North Yorkshire Council has sent letters to all eligible households and they have until Wednesday, February 15 to select their e-voucher.

All councils in the UK have to spend the entirety of their Household Support Scheme funding by March 31 2023 and it cannot be carried over.

You can usually find what your local council are offering through its website.

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