VOUCH FOR IT
Thousands of hard-up families eligible for free £120 food vouchers over summer holidays – how to get it
Find out how you can get help in your area below
THOUSANDS of families struggling with the cost of living are in line for food vouchers worth £120 this summer.
The help comes via the latest round of the Government's Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million.
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The pot of money has been shared between councils in England who then decide how to distribute it and who is eligible for support.
That means what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live and it can be a bit of a postcode lottery.
However, you could be in line for everything from supermarket and energy vouchers, to direct cash payments.
The current round is ending on September 30 though, so if you haven't applied for help yet if you're eligible, you should soon.
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Hackney Council in London said it expected to hand out a range of help to thousands of households with its latest HSF amount.
This includes food vouchers for families with children on free school meals worth £60 per child.
That means a family with two children could get £120 to cover the cost of their food shopping this summer.
Hackney Council said households who qualify need to apply via the Hackney Money Hub page on its website.
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Can I get help if I don't live in Hackney?
You might be able to. The £421million HSF pot has been shared between councils in England, but not equally.
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Each local authority also gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.
Some councils started distributing help in April and have already depleted their share, so you might have missed out for now.
There are currently a number of councils offering help via the HSF.
Tower Hamlets Council is dishing out cost of living cash worth £100.
Meanwhile, Plymouth Council is handing out payments worth up to £740.
If you want to check if you are eligible for help, contact your local council.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government's council locator tool.
How else to get help with the cost of living
If you're not eligible for the Household Support Fund in your local area, it's worth checking if you qualify for benefits.
Recent figures from Policy in Practice reveal millions of people aren't claiming the extra help when they could be.
In total, £23billion went unclaimed over the last financial year, with £8.3billion worth of Universal Credit not claimed for.
You can apply for benefits on the Government's website.
It's not just extra money you get from benefits either, with a number opening up additional perks.
Those on Universal Credit can get help covering the cost of childcare, for example, while those on Pension Credit can get a free TV licence.
Those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit also qualify for the Warm Home Discount - a yearly £150 discount off energy bills.
You may also be able to get grants to cover your energy bills if you've fallen into arrears.
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A number of energy firms offer grants to struggling customers, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy and British Gas.
If you're struggling to pay your bills, speak to your supplier to see if they can give you any help.
History of the Household Support Fund
Here is everything you need to know...
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 in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
The current fund is due to close on September 30 although there have been calls to extend it again.