Starting today, eligible households can apply for £200 payments to ease living costs. This support comes from the DWP’s Household Support Fund.
Dudley: Starting today, there’s a new £200 payment to help with living costs. This is part of the DWP’s Household Support Fund, aimed at those who need it most.
The fund has £421 million available, but it’s up to local councils to distribute it. Many are using this money to help with food and energy bills, which is great news for struggling families.
Dudley Council has opened applications for its share of the fund, which is over £2.6 million. They want to help people in need across the borough.
The council explained that this fund is for low-income households, including families, pensioners, and disabled individuals. It can cover essentials like food, clothing, and even transport costs.
To qualify for the £200 payment, you need to live in Dudley, have less than £2,000 in savings, and earn under £40,000 a year. If you’re single, the limit is £30,000. Also, if you got a payment between April 1 and January 21, you won’t be eligible.
Dudley officials are expecting a lot of applications, so they advise not to wait. Once the fund runs out, they’ll close applications, possibly on the same day.
When applying, have your recent bank statement, National Insurance number, and income details ready. They’ll process applications on a first-come, first-served basis, which takes about two to four weeks.
Be careful of scams, too. Some people have reported getting calls from fraudsters pretending to be from the council. Remember, the council won’t contact you to apply for the fund. You must apply directly through their website.
This round of the Household Support Fund runs until March 31, 2025. Any updates on its future will be part of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget on March 26. Birmingham’s fund is currently paused until March to handle existing applications.
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