DWP urges Brits to contact their local councils for 'little known' free vouchers

[dutchman]

Brits struggling amid the cost of living crisis are being urged to reach out to their local council to see if they are eligible for Household Support Funding



The Department for Work and Pensions is urging Brits to check if they are eligible for a 'little known' scheme available to many councils across the UK. The scheme is known as the Household Support Fund.

The funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits to get the help from your local council.

By checking if you are eligible, you may be able to get help with essential costs from your local council. This could help if you’re struggling to afford necessities like: energy, heating and water bills, food and essential items like fridges, freezers and vouchers for toiletries.

Your council may also offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays. Each council decides how to run the scheme and it is important to not that there may be differences in eligibility criteria, if or how you need to apply and who money is given to.

For example, some councils share out money through local charities and community groups, while some limit household applications to one per year. Check with your local council to find out what support is available.

For example, Coventry City Council is running the government's Household Support Fund from 1 April, 2024, to 31 March, 2025. A statement on the website reads: "Households who find themselves in financial difficulty can apply for a range of support; this includes households who have previously been ineligible following receipt of a Cost-of-Living Payment.

"There will be a set amount of funds available each month, when that amount is reached, we will have to close the online application form until the next month starts." The council also says: "We are experiencing a high level of applications at this time.

"Awards for fuel are presently taking 5-10 working days to issue vouchers once an award has been made. Applications for other household essentials for example, kitchen appliances, beds etc are currently taking 4-6 weeks to be awarded."

If you live in Coventry, all applications for support are made online by completing this form. The majority of councils across the UK will have their own application procedure, enter your post code on the Gov.uk to see yours.