People in one area of the UK could receive as much as £1,000 in cost of living aid, but time is ticking away. This financial support is coming from the Household Support Fund scheme, with money supplied by the Department for Work and Pensions and handed out by local authorities, including Portsmouth Council in this case.
The support ranges from one-off cash boosts to vouchers for food and heating essentials.
Those struggling with "severe financial hardship" and meeting the set income thresholds based on household size could be eligible for the extra support. Check out the qualifying criteria:
- Single adult, no children - £29,665
- Single adult, one child - £38,520
- Single adult, two children - £47,375
- Single adult, three children - £56,230
- Single adult, four or more children - £65,085
- Couple, no children - £37,452
Couple, one child - £44,942
Couple, two children - £52,432
Couple, three children - £59,923
Couple, four or more children - £67,413
When it comes to applying for the money, the help will be allocated depending on family size and your unique situation. You'll need to provide additional documents such as: income evidence, bank statements, and reasons to plead your case, the reports.
However, applicants only have until noon on March 14 to register their interest in the extra support.
For those not covered by Portsmouth council, you could ask your local council to see if there is any extra financial support for available. Keep in mind that the Household Support fund will end on March 31.
For example, residents of Herefordshire who provide more than 35 hours of care per week could be eligible for a £300 support. Furthermore, households that depend on high-energy medical equipment such as ventilators, dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators or feeding pumps may qualify for a one-off payment of £250 from Herefordshire Council.
Meanwhile, residents of Solihull can avail free assistance worth £500 to clear water and energy debts. To qualify, your combined annual household income must not exceed £31,000, and you should have no savings, unless you're a pensioner, in which case you can have up to £5,000 in savings.
There must also be someone living in the household with a vulnerability, and you must be receiving a qualifying benefit.
