STRUGGLING households have been handed extra time to apply for £300 in free cash to help with the cost of living.

The money comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million.

The money has been shared between local councils, which have been allocating it to households in need.

The latest tranche of funding has been available to councils from October 1, 2022, until March 31, 2023.

Each council has been given a different portion of the fund and is deciding who to give help to – so what you can get will vary depending on where you live.

But, in most cases, support is offered to households on a low income or benefits.

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Harrow Council, in London, had originally set a deadline of tomorrow (January 31) for 750 households to apply for free cash payments of £300 to help with the cost of living.

But the local authority has now extended the deadline until February 28.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the £300 one-off payment from Harrow Council, you will need to have become entitled to a number of qualifying means-tested benefits between May 26, 2022 and September 30, 2022.

This includes Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit and Income Support.

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You can apply if you were entitled to a number of disability benefits between May 26 and September 30 last year too.

This includes Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and War Pension Mobility Supplement.

You can't apply if you have received the £650 cost of living payment, the £150 cost of living disability payment, or a £100 voucher under the Household Support Fund.

The full list of eligibility criteria is available on Harrow Council's website – so you check on there to see if you can claim.

On top of the £300 payments, Harrow Council is offering free school meal vouchers to vulnerable households with children during the school holidays through to Easter this year.

You can find out if you are eligible for the vouchers on Harrow Council's website – but your child must be between five and 18 years old.

Can I get help if I don't live in Harrow?

Yes, even if you don't live in Harrow, you should still be able to get help.

But what you can get and who is eligible is a bit of a postcode lottery as each council is deciding how to distribute their portion of the HSF.

In some areas, councils have run out of money to give to eligible households too.

How the help is being distributed depends on where you live.

Some councils are handing out vouchers to be used to help people pay for energy bills, food and other everyday essentials.

Whereas in other areas, local authorities are transferring money directly into bank accounts.

You might have a deadline to apply for any help in your area – you should check with your council if you're not sure.

Bromley Council is offering thousands of struggling households £200 energy bill vouchers.

Plus, thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are also due electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.

What other help is available?

In the Autumn Statement, chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed millions on benefits and Universal Credit will receive an extra one-off £900 cost of living payment.

Meanwhile, millions of households should be in the process of receiving a £400 energy rebate.

The money is being applied as a discount for the majority of households, although those on prepayment meters are being issued vouchers to redeem at their nearest top-up point.

Struggling families are eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living too.

Under the scheme, eligible households can get £150 off their electricity bill each winter.

You don't have to apply for the cash as you will automatically qualify if you are receiving certain benefits.

You can read more about who's eligible here.

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Plenty of energy companies offer households struggling to pay for bills grants worth up to £1,500. These are just a few:

• British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
• British Gas Energy Trust
• EDF Customer Support Fund
• E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
• Octopus Energy Assist Fund
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]

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