Some vulnerable households could get vouchers worth up to £500 to help pay their bills in the summer. Several local authorities have announced plans to issue vouchers to support households struggling with the cost of living, as part of the Household Support Fund, a pot of money granted to councils by the government.
The distribution of this fund is decided by each council, with many opting for either vouchers, cash grants, or schemes.
Ribble Valley Borough Council in Lancashire, for instance, is offering food vouchers to eligible households with a combined income of less than £35,000 a year. Local residents can apply for a £200 voucher if they live alone, £300 for households with two or more adults, or £500 for households with children.
The application process is currently open at ribblevalley.gov.uk and will run until July 11, unless funds are exhausted before this date. People won’t qualify if they received a voucher from the council between October 2024 and March 2025, reports the Mirror.
Those who received a voucher from the council between April 2024 to September 2024 will only be eligible for further assistance after October 2025.
If you’re not a resident of Ribble Valley, it’s worth exploring what support your local council can offer through the Household Support Fund. For example, the City of Doncaster Council is providing aid to households on certain benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit and free school meals.
If your household has one dependent child, you’ll be given a £100 food payment, while £200 will be allocated for those with two children, and £300 for three. The council defines a dependent child as one for whom you are receiving Child Benefit. A single payment will be made towards energy bills for households that meet the eligibility criteria.
Hull City Council is offering £200 to pensioners, as well as £40 for low-income families to be used for school uniforms. The authority also hands out food vouchers during school holidays for those eligible for free school meals.
Hartlepool Borough Council is issuing £100 food vouchers to all households in which a child aged between two and 19 qualifies for free school meals. Households with pensioners receiving council tax support will receive £100 in bank payments or food vouchers this year.
To find out what support you may be elibigle for, contact your local council.
