THOUSANDS of people are set to get cash to help with the rising cost of living within days.
A direct payment worth £200 will hit bank accounts to help cover energy bills.
Payments are being made to some people in Doncaster who have already sought help through the Household Support Fund.
A fresh pot of £500m cash is being dished out locally in the form of cash, supermarket vouchers and one-off payments depending on where you are.
That's on top of the same amount which was given out to hard-up Brits over the winter months until March this year.
The latest money from the fund is being given out between April and September this year.
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Now Doncaster is among the places giving out automatic payments to those who previously got help from the fund.
The £200 will be paid into bank accounts by July 8, the council has said.
Residents who won't get the cash but are struggling financially can still apply for the payment.
Those getting a council tax reductions, housing benefit or Universal Credit are eligible, whether you have children or not.
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Pensioners getting a council tax reduction or housing benefit will also qualify.
The council says it is contacting anyone eligible with details of how to apply.
People living in Warwickshire County Council's district are also getting payments automatically.
Each council is giving out the cash in different ways, including the amount and who's eligible.
You can check this by using the gov.uk council finder tool.
For instance in Rotherham the most hard-up households can now apply for up to £400.
in North Yorkshire there's £150 free supermarket vouchers for food and essentials being given out.
And Reading Council is giving its own pensioners energy vouchers worth £98, as well as families in the area a sum of £49 to help cover similar costs.
Once you've found your council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding on its website.
Each council will have a different application process – so exact details on how to apply will vary depending on where you live.
That means that the eligibility requirements to access the fund could also vary – it's best to check with your local council for more details.
If there's no information on your council's website, then its best to ring them up and ask for more information.
If you're not eligible for the fund but still require help, there are other support packages you can take advantage of.
Extra help with energy bills
There are schemes offered by suppliers, local councils, charities and the government that could help.
If you're struggling with energy costs or other bills there are plenty of organisations where you can seek advice for free, including:
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
- Step Change – 0800 138 1111
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
You should speak to your energy supplier in the first instance as they have schemes in place to help with bills and arrears, including hardship funds and grants.
For example, British Gas and Octopus have set up funds worth up to £750 to help customers who are struggling with their bills.
Your local council may also be able to help with cash and grants if you are struggling with bills through the Household Support Scheme.
You should also check that you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to.
Use an online benefits calculator to make sure you're not missing out on any extra cash.
Similarly, you can search for charity grants that help you pay for gas and electricity bills.
There's more help from the government on the way too, later in the year in the form of one-off cost of living payments worth as much as £1,500 depending on your circumstances.
Every household will get £400 off their energy bill this winter.
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Those on Universal Credit and certain benefits will get a £650 one-off payment – with the first half hitting bank accounts within WEEKS.
Meanwhile a payment of £300 will go to pensioners and £150 extra is heading to those with certain disabilities too.
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