THOUSANDS of households can apply for free £200 payments to cover the cost of living in weeks after a vital scheme was extended.
The cash help comes via the Household Support Fund, a giant £742million Government fund.
The Household Support Fund has been extended[/caption]
The scheme has been extended multiple times with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026.
Each council in England has been allocated a share of the £742million fund and can distribute it to residents in need.
Eligibility criteria varies based on where you live but usually help is offered to those on benefits or a low income.
Thousands of hard-up households in Birmingham can get £200 payments through the latest round of the fund.
The payments are being issued by the Birmingham Voluntary Service Council.
The application window for the new round of funding opens in June. You can apply via www.bvsc.org/hsf.
You will be eligible for a £200 payment if you are a Birmingham resident struggling to cover the cost of food and energy.
You will not qualify if you have received a £200 payment from the Household Support Fund in the last 12 months.
What about if I don’t live in Birmingham?
The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England.
So, if you don’t live in Birmingham but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help.
This is because the fund was originally set up to help those on low incomes or classed as vulnerable.
What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers.
It’s worth bearing in mind, because the new round of the HSF has only just opened, you might not be able to apply for help yet.
However, it’s worth keeping an eye on your local council’s website or social media channels.
Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to their HSF as well.
You might be able to find it by typing in the name of your council then “Household Support Fund” into Google search.
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £742million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
The current round runs until the end of March 2026.
You may have to apply for help through the HSF or you may be contacted directly by your council.
Some local authorities send letters to your home to let you know about next steps you need to take.
Other help you can claim
If you don’t qualify for the Household Support Fund you might be able to get help through other means.
In the first instance, it’s worth checking if you qualify for benefits, with billions of pounds’ worth going unclaimed every year.
There are three free calculators you can use to see what you might be entitled to:
If you’ve fallen behind on your energy bills you might also be eligible for a grant to cover the cost of your arrears.
British Gas and Octopus Energy both offer struggling customers grants.
You can get up to £2,000 worth of energy debt wiped, depending on your circumstances.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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