£895 cost of living payments arriving in bank accounts this July and August
Households can claim the money in the next two months
Households across the UK are still able to claim a slice of up to £895 to help with the cost of living this July and August.
Although the government’s direct Cost Of Living scheme is long over, local councils across the UK are still able to hand out money in a fund in partnership with the DWP known as the Household Support Fund.
The money, handed from central government to local authorities, gives councils the discretion to give out financial support to those who need it most in their communities.
Every local area is spending the money in a different way, with some opting to hand out vouchers automatically to families on Universal Credit, and others inviting applications on a discretionary basis to anyone who feels they might need help regardless of the benefits they may or may not be claiming.
It also means the exact amount you can get will depend on where you live, so it's worth contacting your local council directly to ask about the Household Support Fund.
Wakefield Council is issuing a £75 voucher to families with at least one child on July 18, having already issued vouchers to various other eligible groups in June.
The authority is inviting people to apply but there are no minimum rules because it’s a discretionary fund, which means the council can approve anyone it deems in need of the cash.
Coventry City Council has unveiled its version of the Household Support Fund which is open to applications from Tuesday April 30 until September 30 2024.
It says: “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.”
For gas, electricity or water bill support, the authority is making £140 available for families (or £120 for childless couples or single people), which can be applied for up to three times between April and September for a total of £420.
On top of that, households can claim a £25 shopping voucher, and clothing and bedding support up to a maximum of £95 per adult and £60 per child, though this is capped at £400 per household. Finally, a voucher for toiletries can be claimed up to the value of £20.
In total, that makes a maximum available of £895 in cash and vouchers available to those who need financial help this summer.
