Hundreds of households are being sent letters worth £200 in free supermarket vouchers.
The vouchers are being issued by Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council, in West Sussex. The councils will be sending out letters to 200 pensioner households who missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment this year. The letters are being sent this week, and the vouchers will then be sent through by email 14 days after this.
The money for the vouchers comes from the Household Support Fund, which is a scheme that provides cash to local authorities which they can then issue directly to residents. Each council can set its own criteria for who is eligible for this help, and what type of support it will offer – for example, you could get a cash grant or vouchers for energy and water.
Councillor Sharon Sluman, Adur’s cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said: “There is a lot of support available for people struggling with the cost of living, but we know that there are many retired people who fall just shy of claiming Pension Credit and will miss out on Winter Fuel Payments this year. The Proactive team will continue to contact anyone who may be eligible for the vouchers as well as signpost people to other support available.”
Councillor Dom Ford, Worthing’s cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure said: “The cost of living is still having an impact on people’s day-to-day lives, with food and energy costs continuing to increase. These vouchers can be used in most major supermarkets and will help take some of the worry away by making sure the costs of everyday essentials are covered.”
The Household Support Fund was due to end on September 30, 2024 but it has been extended for an additional six months, until March 31, 2025, after another £421million was allocated to the scheme. If you’re not covered by Adur and Worthing councils, it is worth checking the website of your local authority to see what help it could potentially offer you.
For example, Camden Council is awarding up to £500 in cost of living help to residents who cannot afford essentials such as food, energy bills or housing. The amount you’re awarded will be dependent on your circumstances and size of your household.
Blackpool Council is giving payments of up to £300 to households, paid directly to your energy or water supplier. This will appear as a credit on your bill or prepay meter. Households of one or two people can get a £200 payment, while households of three or more are able to claim £300.
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