Households in a specific region of the UK are receiving supermarket vouchers worth £70 to assist with living expenses. Wakefield Council is distributing these vouchers through the Household Support Fund, which offers various forms of aid such as energy support, supermarket vouchers, and cash grants. The council is providing food vouchers to low-income households receiving council tax assistance, including pensioners receiving Council Tax Support. Eligible families will receive a £50 voucher from December 15, while other households in receipt of Council Tax Support will receive a £70 voucher between December 3 and December 12. Residents do not need to apply for the vouchers as they will be automatically sent within 14 days of the specified dates. Wakefield Council is cautioning residents to beware of scammers. It is advisable for non-Wakefield residents to check with their local councils for available support through the Household Support Fund.
For instance, Blackpool Council is offering energy assistance of £200 to eligible households with one or two individuals, and £300 to households with three or more individuals. To qualify for this support, individuals must be experiencing financial difficulties and struggling to pay bills, and they must provide recent bank statements for all household members. Universal Credit or other benefits are not mandatory to apply for this fund, but only one award can be claimed within a 12-month period. The payment is directly made to the energy provider and appears as a credit on the bill or pre-payment meter. Applications can be submitted through the Blackpool Council website.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is providing £120 worth of vouchers to eligible residents. Working-age households receiving Council Tax Reduction received two £60 vouchers in the last two weeks of November, while pensioner households with Council Tax Reduction will receive two £60 vouchers in the first two weeks of January. Additionally, one-off payments of £120 are available to low-income residents paying energy bills and not receiving Council Tax Reduction.