{"id":364,"date":"2025-05-16T12:10:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T12:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/?p=364"},"modified":"2025-05-16T15:43:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T15:43:47","slug":"thousands-of-households-could-get-up-to-500-in-cost-of-living-support-check-if-you-qualify","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/16\/thousands-of-households-could-get-up-to-500-in-cost-of-living-support-check-if-you-qualify\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands of households could get up to \u00a3500 in cost of living support \u2013 check if you qualify"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23097846 lazyload\" alt=\"Rising high cost of living in low poor income asia people family. Past due bill debt home loan money issue young adult asian couple man woman worry shock sad tired stress in raise tax rate crisis\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_251529012-539c.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>For the most part, every council offers different support (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"metro-article-audio-player\" data-vars-type=\"article-audio-player\">\n<div class=\"metro-article-audio-player-play-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"metro-article-audio-player-play-button\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<title>Listen to article<\/title>\t\t\t\t\t<span>Listen to article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sponsor-image lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Powered by\" data-rewritten=\"false\" data-src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/metro\/includes\/site-blocks\/article-audio\/assets\/powered-by.png\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-controls hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t<audio class=\"audio-element\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/HSF-payments-09ee.mp3\" controls id=\"audio-68275c1d9a076\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tYour browser does not support the audio element.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/audio>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Thousands of people could get up to \u00a3500 in <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/cost-of-living\/\">cost of living<\/a> help \u2013 if they fulfil certain criteria. <\/p>\n<p>Years of stubbornly high inflation \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2023\/11\/15\/inflation-falls-two-year-low-energy-costs-ease-19824888\/\">how much prices have increased <\/a>\u2013 have left everything from <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/05\/13\/struggling-save-money-50-30-20-rule-help-budget-2-23014264\/\">bread to household bills more expensive<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But the <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/british-government\/\">government<\/a> has several schemes that can give struggling families extra support. <\/p>\n<p>Among them is the Household Support Fund (HSF), which has been quietly extended into 2026. <\/p>\n<p>The one-off payment is for people struggling to pay for their <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/05\/10\/energy-suppliers-refund-households-7-000-000-overcharging-customers-23060596\/\">energy and water bills<\/a>, food and other essential items. <\/p>\n<p>Support can range from cash to top up your gas meter to food vouchers.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to apply for DWP\u2019s cost of living payments?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23097849 lazyload\" alt=\"Close up of a woman&#039;s hand paying with her smartphone in a cafe, scan and pay a bill on a card machine making a quick and easy contactless payment. NFC technology, tap and go concept\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_251529327-37e2.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Eligibility criteria can include being a certain age or living in particular parts of the county (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>People can apply for the support through their local council website.<\/p>\n<p>You can find out what your council is using this<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/find-local-council\"> GOV.UK webpage.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you are being supported by someone, like a social worker or an advice service, they can also make a referral on your behalf. <\/p>\n<p>If you can\u2019t apply yourself, people can ask a family member, friend or neighbour to do so on their behalf.<\/p>\n<p>Computers at local libraries can also be used. <\/p>\n<p>While the scheme will be open for about a year, some councils will have weeks-long windows where people can apply. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What date is the next cost of living payment?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"451\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23097842 lazyload\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_251529173-272a.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The HSF scheme has opened in most parts of England (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The next round of HSF scheme funding will be available until March 31, 2026. <\/p>\n<p>Though, the details of it are still being finalised in some areas, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.gov.uk\/leisure-and-community\/cost-of-living-support\/urgent-financial-help-and-extra-support\/household-support-fund\">Kent<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hants.gov.uk\/socialcareandhealth\/childrenandfamilies\/connectforcommunities\/supportforfamilies\">Hampshire <\/a>or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leicestershire.gov.uk\/adult-social-care-and-health\/assessment-and-eligibility-for-care-and-support\/household-support-fund\">Leicestershire<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s best to check your local council website. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is eligible for the \u00a3500 one-off payment?<\/h2>\n<p>The Department for <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/department-for-work-and-pensions\/\">Work and Pensions (DWP)<\/a> gives each council some of the HSF cash, leaving it up to the councils to decide who can qualify.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, how much people can receive is based on their income, household size and other vulnerabilities. <\/p>\n<p>But anyone who lives in the local area, is 18 or over and has recently or is experiencing hardship can generally apply. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23097841 lazyload\" alt=\"Worried transgender woman looking for financial bills at home\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_251529185-efb1.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Finncial support includes school uniform vouchers (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Officials in some parts of the UK, like in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southampton.gov.uk\/benefits-welfare\/money-advice\/household-support-fund\/\">Southampton<\/a>, offer HSF to people aged 16.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t need to be on benefits to be eligible for the money. Neither will being on welfare impact your application for HSF.<\/p>\n<p>The fund is sometimes offered as a lump sum. <\/p>\n<p>Others, like Croydon, south<a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\"> London<\/a>, for example, offer it as vouchers. Croydon council also asks people to include \u2018evidence\u2019 in their applications, such as bank statements or recent bills.<\/p>\n<p>Here are examples of the support being offered: <\/p>\n<p><strong>Worcestershire<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vulnerable people living in Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest can apply for up to \u00a3500 in support. <\/p>\n<p>To be eligible, someone in the household must be on benefits, have a long-term illness or disability, be a carer, or have recently experienced a crisis.<\/p>\n<p>The \u00a3500 can be given to energy providers, credited to an online portal or used as Post Office vouchers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>West Sussex <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westsussex.gov.uk\/leisure-recreation-and-community\/household-support-fund\/\">council says<\/a> groups that can apply include: low-income households, families of children with disabilities, care leavers, carers or people with \u2018no recourse\u2019 to public funds. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Medway<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The HSF pot is dished out as supermarket, school uniform vouchers, as well as energy cards and referrals for vouchers. <\/p>\n<p>Household essential vouchers:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Single person: \u00a365<\/li>\n<li>Household with 2 people: \u00a385<\/li>\n<li>Household with 3 people: \u00a3115\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Household with 4 people: \u00a3155<\/li>\n<li>Household with 5 people: \u00a3190<\/li>\n<li>Household with 6 or more people: \u00a3225.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>School uniform vouchers and gas and water bill support can be up to \u00a3100.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>HSF is managed by the council and <a href=\"https:\/\/citizensadvicebcp.org.uk\/projects\/household-support-fund\/\">Citizens Advice<\/a>, offering some households up to \u00a3300 in support through two \u00a3150 vouchers.<\/p>\n<p>There are four windows to apply:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From now until 4.30pm on\u00a0July 4<\/li>\n<li>9am July 21\u00a0to 4.30pm on September 21<\/li>\n<li>9am September 29 to 4.30pm on November 21<\/li>\n<li>9am December 8 to 4.30pm January 30 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cambridgeshire <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Financial support from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk\/council\/communities\/support-with-the-cost-of-living\/household-support-fund\">county council<\/a> comes in different forms. <\/p>\n<p>Families can receive \u00a315 vouchers for each of their eligible children to help cover food costs. <\/p>\n<p>While the \u2018financial award\u2019 scheme is a sum of \u00a3110 split up as vouchers, including PayPoint cashout vouchers or supermarket coupons. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Salford<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The deadline for HSF \u2013 which comes as shopping vouchers or fuel metre top-ups of up to \u00a3200 \u2013 is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salford.gov.uk\/advice-and-support\/household-support-fund\/\">September 30<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>North Somerset<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The council is handing out \u00a3100 food vouchers for each child entitled to free school meals in June. <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no need to apply for this \u2013 schools will automatically send them to families. <\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong><strong><strong>Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:webnews@metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\">webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this, <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the most part, every council offers different support (Picture: Getty Images) Listen to article Listen to article Your browser does not support the audio element. Thousands of people could get up to \u00a3500 in cost of living help \u2013 if they fulfil certain criteria. Years of stubbornly high inflation \u2013 how much prices have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[20],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=364"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":371,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364\/revisions\/371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/originalholdum.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}