THOUSANDS of households are being urged to look out for £400 in free cash hitting their bank accounts.

The help comes as part of the latest round of Household Support Fund which is worth £842million.

Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and need.

Grants on offer vary by location so you'll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.

It was due to end in March this year but was extended until April 2024 meaning households get more support.

You'll usually need to be on a low income to receive the help.

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Eligible households can get £400 in free cash if they live in West Devon.

This is being dished out in two direct payments, with the first being delivered between now and the end of summer.

While the second payment will be made in December.

The council said the support is aimed at helping people with essential costs such as food, energy and water bills.

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It is being given to households who didn't get the £900 cost of living payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The households benefiting from the funding are as follows:

• Single income households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction
• Those who have caring responsibilities who receive Council Tax Reduction and Carers Allowance
• People who get a War Disablement Pension (on 1 August 2023)

If you fall into more than one category, you will still only be eligible for one payment.

Councillor Tony Leech, said: "With this funding round, we want to look towards those who may not have received any help but need our support; those surviving on a lone wage, trying to make ends meet.

"Carers who do so much to support their families and in turn our communities, are next in line for our help.

"Finally, those veterans who are in receipt of a pension for their services to our country."

Can I get help if I don't live in West Devon?

Yes, but the help available to you will depend on where you live.

Each council is distributing their share of the HSF differently.

Some are handing out vouchers, while others are making bank transfers to eligible residents.

The amount you are entitled to will vary depending on the area you live in too.

If you’re not sure which council is in charge of your area, you can tap your postcode into the government’s local council checker tool to find out.

The most common types of support provided each year are supermarket vouchers, fuel vouchers and one-off payments. 

Bear in mind that many councils haven't opened the application process for the next round of funding yet, so keep an eye out.

Who is eligible for the DWP cost of living payment?

A separate £900 cost of living payment for those on certain benefits is being paid out over the course of the year.

The payment is available for those who receive any of the following:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Tax Credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit

The first payment, worth £301, was paid between April and May.

The second instalment, worth £300, will be paid in autumn.

Spring next year will see the final chunk of the £900 cost of living payment dished out – it is worth £299.

We don't know have an exact date for when the second and third payments will be made.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has it said it'll provide more information on exact dates nearer the time.

You can check the full list of cost of living payments available on the government website.

What other help is out there?

Council tax discount

Many people don't realise they can get a cheaper council tax bill.

There are a number of discounts you could get, depending on your circumstances.

To apply for any of the below discounts, go through the government website.

If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.

This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.

If you live with someone who doesn't have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.

And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.

Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.

If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.

If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.

Grants and hardship funds

You can get a grant from your energy supplier if you're really struggling and need help paying off debts.

Scottish Power, for example, gives up to £750 per household to the most hard-up households.

Most hardship funds have no deadline and you can apply all year round.

There is no specific eligibility criteria, but most customers who get help are in arrears on their bill.

Healthy Start Vouchers

Healthy start vouchers can help you cover the cost of fresh food and drink for your kids.

If you're on a low income, the scheme could be worth as much as £442 a year.

Each healthy start voucher is currently worth £4.25 a week, and over a year that adds up to £221.

It's worth double that if you have a child under the age of one as you'll be eligible for two vouchers each week, which makes up the £442 maximum.

There used to be paper vouchers, but that has been replaced by a prepaid card, so you'll get the amounts added to that instead automatically every four weeks.

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Meanwhile, those struggling can apply for a range of schemes that provide free cash, vouchers and more and you could get thousands of pounds – see our full list.

Plus, here is the full list of benefits that don't qualify for the cost of living payments.

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

You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.

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