UK households have been given a two-week warning to claim an extra £150 in supermarket vouchers.
Portsmouth City Council has reopened its applications for the Household Support Fund (HSF) for low-income households in the area but residents will need to be quick.
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That’s because the deadline is in 14 days’ time, with applications needing to be submitted by 12:00 noon on March 15, 2024.
However, due to limited funding, the Household Support Fund Family Vouchers may close earlier than this, if all the funds have been given out.
Therefore, those who are eligible for the vouchers are advised to apply as soon as they can.
The first voucher was given out before the Christmas break to families with children attending school in Portsmouth in years R to 11 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.
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However, lower-income families with children who did not qualify can now apply for their own vouchers.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for the £150 supermarket vouchers, then all the information you need is listed below.
You can apply for a Household Support Fund Family Voucher if you:
- Are living in the Portsmouth City Council area (PO1-PO6);
- Are receiving Child Benefit for a child aged 0-19, or are at least 20 weeks pregnant;
- Did not have receive an £80 voucher in respect of this child from a school between November 2023 and January 2024;
- Have a total household earned and unearned income (excluding benefits and tax credits) of below £1,500 in the last month (or £1,385 in the last four weeks if paid weekly).
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If you are unable to complete an online application or upload proof of your circumstances online, you can make a telephone application by calling the council’s household support fund helpline.
More information can be found on the Portsmouth City Council website.
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It isn’t just Portsmouth, however, where cash schemes are being offered to low-income families.
The extra help is being handed out by councils all across the UK until March 31, although how much you can get depends on where you live and your individual circumstances.
Four more free cash schemes are beginning to close over the next few weeks, however, so take action now to have the best chance of getting up to £320 in extra cost of living payments.
Last month, Dorset Council announced it would reopen applications for round four of the Household Support Fund for low-income households in the area.
Households will be able to apply if they pay council tax to Dorset Council and have an annual household net income of less than £30,000.
Personal Independence Payments such as Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance or Child Benefit should not be included when calculating the net income, however.
