UNPAID carers on a low income have just weeks left to apply for free cost of living cash worth £300.
Councils across England have been allocated a share of a giant £421million fund known as the Household Support Fund.
Households in one part of the UK can get free £300 cost of living cash[/caption]
Each local authority can decide who it wants to give help to and how to distribute it.
However, in most cases if you are on certain benefits or a low income you will qualify for support.
The latest round of funding has to be allocated by councils before March 31, with some already having depleted their shares.
But some are still encouraging hard-up residents to get in touch to receive help with the cost of living.
Herefordshire Council is offering £300 one-off payments to unpaid carers on a low income.
Th exact eligibility criteria is that you must have an average income of less than £151 per week, after tax, and be providing a minimum 35 hours of care to someone per week.
You must also be on a benefit like Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Carer’s Allowance and have had to reduce your working hours or leave a job because of your caring role, leading to a loss of income.
Lastly, you must be someone who needs extra money to cover the associated costs of caring for a loved one.
You can apply for the £300 payment via specific organisations like Carers Links, Age UK Wyvern, Dementia Matters Here(fordshire), Crossroads Together and Citizens Advice Bureau.
If you have a social worker supporting you, they can also complete a referral for you.
Help for those outside of Herefordshire
Households across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are eligible for help through the Household Support Fund.
What you are entitled to varies based on where you live.
Some councils have already depleted their share of the latest round of funding as well.
In most cases, you will qualify for help if you are on a low income, benefits or classed as vulnerable.
Check out your local council’s website for more details, or contact it to find out if you’re eligible for help.
Other help you can claim
If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might qualify for other forms of help to cover the cost of living.
Several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000.
This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF.
New parents might also be eligible for free food worth up to £442 a year to cover the cost of healthy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme.
Or, you can get an emergency food parcel from a Trussell Trust food bank.
You can find your nearest via www.trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.
To get a food parcel, you need a voucher from a community organisation like Citizens Advice or your GP.
You can then exchange this voucher for a food parcel at the food bank.
It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for benefits if you haven’t already – billions of pounds worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.
There are three free calculators you can use to see what you might be entitled to:
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
And don’t delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date.
Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it’s crucial you apply as soon as possible.
