Residents across South Tyneside may be eligible for a £150 payment from the council this winter - with money being distributed as part of the Household Support Fund.
A Government funded project, the pot is provided to councils who in-turn dish the money out to struggling families who need it most.
And it's down to each local authority to decide how the currency is shared, meaning that the help on offer up and down the county varies massively.
Read more: DWP announces £1,350 cash boost for millions able to claim new cost of living payments
The Mirror reports that some councils are offering supermarket and energy vouchers, while others are giving out cash grants that don't need to be paid back. The Household Support Fund has been extended three times so far, with the latest instalment worth £421million, and will run until March 2023.
South Tyneside Council is using its share of the money to offer £150 payments to eligible households. Its website states the funding is designed to help with the cost of energy, water bills, food and other essentials.
You might be able to claim the money if you are struggling financially and you didn’t get the £650 cost of living payment for people on certain benefits. The council will look at your income and savings to determine if you’re eligible.
To apply for the help, you’ll need to fill out an online application form. The council says it is experiencing high demand but says you should hear back the same working day if you apply before 1pm.
If you're not eligible for support through the Household Support Fund, but you're struggling, you should contact the council anyway to see what other help it can offer. Each council is in charge of distributing its own Household Support Fund cash.
To check what help is on offer where you live, type in the name of your local council into Google followed by "Household Support Fund". Each council has set up a dedicated page on its website, explaining what help it is offering through the scheme.
For example, Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council is offering free cash help worth £350 in the New Year, along with energy vouchers worth up to £100. Residents covered by North Yorkshire County Council can claim electronic vouchers worth £325 to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.
Medway Council is offering food vouchers worth between £50 and £210, energy vouchers worth between £30 and £100 and water vouchers worth £50.
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