Exact date which reveals if you are one of 1000s eligible for one-off payment worth up to £100 being made within DAYS
THOUSANDS of cash-strapped households could be eligible for a one-off £100 payment in just days to help cover essential costs.
Leeds Council was allocated a total of £7.09million to spend between April 1 and September 30 from the Household Support Fund (HSF).
Tomorrow those living in the area who receive Council Tax Support will be eligible to qualify for the scheme.
Households in Leeds can claim up to £100 if they have dependent children and £25 will be distributed to those without.
The payments will be made throughout July and the council claimed they’ll be in direct contact with those who qualify for the funding.
Eligible households will receive letters containing a barcode which can be taken to the Post Office, along with ID, to redeem the cash.
The HSF offers help to the most hard-up households and has been extended several times since it was introduced by the Government in 2021.
Funding is given to local councils to distribute, so the support available varies across the country.
Around £2.7million will be spent on cash payments to more than 62,500 households who benefit from Council Tax Support, according to a Leeds City Council report.
The report said: “The area of highest spending will be through the Council Tax Support related scheme.
“This will ensure that households on some of the lowest incomes in the city receive support directly, without the requirement for an application process.”
The second greatest HSF allocation was £1.7m for charities in the city including the Leeds Food Aid Network, Voluntary Action Leeds, Forum Central and Fareshare.
Another allocation of £200,000 will go to the city’s Local Welfare Support scheme.
Leeds City Council warns the funding is strictly for those struggling.
Evidence, like proof of income, may be required, while the council may ever send a worker out to homes to assess that household’s needs.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times, to September 2024.
The latest round of funding is worth £421million to councils in England.
Who qualifies and the level of support given is a postcode lottery, as each local authority can set its own criteria for distributing the funds.
However, if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, are classed as vulnerable or are on benefits, you will likely qualify for help.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
THE Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Chancellor Jeremey Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024
What support is available
The support provided varies from council to council, so it’s worth checking the schemes your local council has in place to make sure you receive all the assistance available.
For example, in Hertfordshire funds have also been made available to support households on low incomes facing immediate financial crisis, provide help with energy costs and support food banks.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
You don’t need to worry about additional support impacting existing benefits, as these will be unaffected by payments from the HSF.
And, you do not need necessarily need to be in receipt of benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.
How do you apply?
To get the help, you’ll need to check with your council – as local authorities are in charge of distributing the funding.
Information on how to apply for the funding should be published on your council’s website.
Each council will have a different application process.
Many councils won’t actually require you to apply for the help and will contact you about it, or issue vouchers via email or your child’s school.
As well as supermarket vouchers, you could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to help with water bills.
If there’s no information on your council’s website, then it’s best to ring them up and ask for more information.
What council tax support is available?
There are several ways you can get discounts and reductions on your council tax bill.
In some cases, you can even get the bill completely wiped with a council tax reduction.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
You’ll need your National Insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
Below, we reveal all the ways you can get discounts or a reduction on your bill:
Single person discount
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.