HELPING HAND
All the summer cost of living payments you can apply for to get up to £3,337 cash direct to bank accounts
Scroll to see how you can get energy debt wiped out
MANY households are being financially squeezed to the brink by the rising cost of living.
Keeping on top of everyday bills such as water, energy and council tax can sometimes feel like a losing battle.
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However, there is help available from a wide range of sources if you know where to look.
These payments are available to those battling to make ends meet and can prove to be a crucial helping hand when you need it most.
In some cases, it can means hundreds of pounds of financial support to plug black holes in your budget.
Here's a roundup of the schemes you could apply for over the coming months...
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Household Support Fund - £425
Households struggling to pay essential bills such as energy, water or food could get a financial lifeline from their local council through the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The scheme was first launched in 2021 and has been extended multiple times. The latest round of funding is running between now and March 2026.
Each council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can distribute it to hard-up residents as they see fit.
As a result, eligibility criteria varies based on where you live in the country.
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However, help is typically offered to those on selected benefits or with a recognised low income and vulnerable.
The amounts you can receive varies too, you may get free cash payment or some councils offer supermarket vouchers.
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For example, households in East Riding can now apply for a payment worth up to £425.
Check in with your local council to find out exactly what you could be entitled to and how to apply.
Some councils may not have opened the scheme yet for the year, in this case keep an eye on its website or social media channels for an update.
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.
School Uniform Grants – Up to £200
Kitting out the kids for school can hit your budget.
However, uniform grants offered by local councils can help ease the pain.
The amount you get depends on where you live. In Wales, families can get up to £200 per child, while in England it depend on the council you fall under.
For example, Southwark Council offers a £45 voucher for 11-year-olds moving to secondary school.
Healthy Start – Up to £442 a Year
Families expecting a baby or that already have children under four can get help with buying nourishing food through the Healthy Start scheme.
This provides prepaid cards to buy essentials like milk, fruit, and vegetables.
And you could get up to £442 a year, depending on your circumstances.
You'll need to be on selected benefits to apply, including Universal Credit.
You can apply for the healthy start scheme .
You can also print out a paper form from the Heathy Start website or you can request one from your GP or midwife.
Alternatively, you can request one from the healthy start helpline on 0345 607 6823.
Maternity grant - £500
Mums expecting their first child could claim a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant to help with the costs of a new baby.
You'll need to be on selected benefits such as Universal Credit to claim.
You don't have to pay the grant back and it doesn't affect other benefits.
You can make a claim for the grant by filling in the Sure Start Maternity Grant (SF100) claim form.
Energy grants - £1,250
If you have fallen behind on your energy bills it can be tough to get back on top of payments.
However, most energy suppliers offer grants to help families battling to clear debt.
British Gas, E.ON Next, EDF, Octopus, Ovo and Scottish Power are among the providers offering this help.
And the British Gas Energy Trust is even available to non-British Gas customers.
To be able to claim you need to have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt.
If your application is successful the money will be applied to your energy account.
But you can only claim a grant from the trust every two years.
EDF’s customer support fund offers an average of £1,250 off customers’ arrears.
Whether you are eligible and the amount you can get will depend on your supplier and your financial situation.
Contact your energy supplier to see what help you can get.
Prepayment meter voucher - £20
If you need to top up your prepayment meter but can't afford to do so then you could get temporary credit from your supplier,
You will have to pay back this credit but it can help when you are stuck for cash and need to top up.
Most suppliers offer up to £20 if you run out of cash and can’t top up straight away so that you don’t go without essentials such as heating or lighting.
Then when you top up, the borrowed credit will be deducted from your payment.
Contact your local council, food bank or Citizens Advice for further help.
Charity grants - £500
It's worth knowing that charities can offer financial help to people in need.
These are often dependent upon circumstances with money available to the bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, carers, veterans, young or old people.
For example, people living with MND are eligible for up to £500 worth of cost of living payments, via the MND Association.
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The British Legion has also set up a Cost of Living grant, which can be applied for using the Lightning Reach portal.
You can find out which grants may be available to you using on the charity website.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity works out what you could get.
Entitledto's determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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