Households can apply for new £200 cost of living payment in days
Birmingham Council will supply £ 200 cost of living payments to households in financial hardship. Applications for help are currently closed but will reopen in June
Households can apply for a cost of living payment worth £200 this week and thousands can get one. The help comes from the Household Support Fund scheme.
First launched in 2021, the cost of living scheme has given local councils pots of cash to support struggling households in their area. Each authority decides how it wants to spend the money, and help can range from free cash payments to supermarket vouchers. However, you can only claim help from the area in which you live.
Birmingham Council will supply £ 200 cost of living payments to households in financial hardship. Applications for help are currently closed but will reopen in June. This week, the first day of June falls on Sunday.
If you have already completed the enquiry form, then you will be on the waiting list and will be contacted within the next six to eight weeks to complete your full application. But completing the enquiry form does not mean that you are definitely entitled to receive a payment - your eligibility will still be checked.
To be eligible for the money, you need to live in Birmingham, struggling to cover energy or food costs, and have not received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months. Birmingham Council has confirmed that the cost of living payment will not impact on any other benefits someone may be receiving or entitled to.
The website details: "Please be advised that enquiries will reopen in June 2025. If you are not currently on the waiting list, and it has now been 12 months since your household last received a grant payment, you will be able to submit a new enquiry once the scheme reopens in June 2025.
"Please be advised that each household is only eligible to receive one £200 grant payment in a 12-month period. e.g. If you received a £200 payment on 28th February 2024, you cannot make another application until 1st March 2025. Any enquiry submitted before your eligibility date will be rejected."
Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics
For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game.
Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities.
Birmingham Council also warns that it will "actively monitor" applications for signs of fraud, and details of those making an attempt will be passed to West Midlands Police."
You cannot claim this support if you do not live in Birmingham. However, you are able to claim help from your local council through their own Household Support Fund scheme. Due to this system, it means it can be a postcode lottery for the support you can get.
Local councils have started to share what help they will offer for this year's Household Support Fund and each council's website details its support offerings alongside its eligibility criteria. Usually, it has a separate cost of living tab.
Each council will also have a different application process for the scheme. Some ask you to apply online, while others ask you to apply over the phone. Some councils are also reaching out to those eligible directly.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
12 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim this summer worth up to £4,300
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PEOPLE on Universal Credit can get up to £4,300 worth of freebies and discounts this summer. Universal Credit is a monthly payment aimed at helping out unemployed and low-paid people. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Taking advantage of these discounts and freebies could save you thousands of pounds Credit: Alamy Claimants can get upwards of £316.98 a month from the Government - but they might not know they're entitled to more help. From food vouchers to help with bills and even cheap days out, there is plenty of extra support available. Here's the full list of what you could be claiming this month. Household Support Fund – worth up to £500 The Household Support Fund has been extended until March 2026 – and it's dishing out direct payments of up to £500. The Government scheme is sharing out a pot of £742million between councils in England to help them support struggling households. Each council is setting its own rules on how it distributes the money, but many are offering vouchers or cash payments to help residents with food and energy bills. Ribble Valley Borough Council is giving out food vouchers worth between £200 to £500 to households with a combined income of less than £35,000 a year. Hartlepool Borough Council is awarding £100 food vouchers to families who have a child aged between two and 19 who is eligible for free school meals. Meanwhile City of Doncaster Council is giving a one-off payment of between £100 to £300 to families on Universal Credit. If you're outside of these areas, you should check your local council's website to see what's on offer and how to apply. Three key benefits you could be missing out on Cheap days out – save £108 You can get huge savings on days out across the UK if you're on Universal Credit. These are some examples of what you can get, but there's plenty on offer... ZSL London Zoo: Entry for £3. Adult tickets are usually priced from £27 so you can make a £24 saving Eden Project: £5 for adults or £1 for kids. Adult tickets are usually £38 and child tickets are £12, saving you £44 in total if you buy one of each Tower of London: £1 tickets for up to six people per household. It's usually £35.80 for an adult ticket, so this would save you £34.80 York Castle Museum: Free entry. It's usually £17 for an adult ticket As a single adult, you could save £108.80 in total by going to all of these attractions. But of course you'll save even more if you're taking other family members too. Healthy Start food help – worth £442 a year New parents or expectant mums can get up to £442 a year for essentials like fruit, veg and baby formula. It's part of the Healthy Start scheme, which gives you a prepaid card loaded with funds every four weeks. You can apply for it online if you're on benefits including Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit. Help to Save – get £1,200 bonus cash People on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit have access to the Government's Help to Save scheme. This gives you a 50% top-up when you put away savings. It's available on savings of up to £50 a month, meaning you can get a maximum of £2,400 over four years. The top-up is paid as a bonus at the end of the second and fourth years. Water bill help – worth £173 You could slash your water bill by hundreds through social tariffs or the WaterSure scheme. Every water supplier has social tariffs aimed at reducing costs for low-income families or people who use lots of water due to disability or large households. The eligibility criteria and level of support depends on your supplier. For example, Affinity Water offers a low-income fixed tariff (LIFT) for customers with a household income of less than £19,995 a year. The tariff is fixed at £143.80, but if you also receive a council tax reduction then your bill will be even lower at £95.80. Affinity Water said the average household bill for 2023/24 was up to £269, which would save you £173. It's not clear what the average household bill is for this year but it's likely to have gone up. You should contact your supplier directly to see what help is available. Some firms even offer free water-saving devices like shower timers and cistern bags to bring your usage down. Free prescriptions and healthcare – up to £119 If you're on Universal Credit, you might be eligible for free NHS prescriptions, saving you £9.90 a pop – or nearly £120 a year if you get your prescription monthly. You could also get: Free dental checks Free eye tests Travel reimbursement for medical appointments Free wigs or glasses Use the NHS online checker to see what you can get. Discounted broadband and mobile contracts – worth £290 You can also get social tariffs for your broadband and mobile contract if you're on Universal Credit. The cheapest deals start at £12.50 a month for broadband. Virgin Media Essential offers £12.50 a month for 15Mbps, with no set-up cost and a rolling 30-day contract. Its standard broadband deals start at £23.99 a month for a 24-month contract, so the social tariff would save you £137.88 a year. For mobile contracts, you can get social tariffs from the likes of EE, Smarty and Voxi. Voxi For Now costs just £10 a month and gives you unlimited data for six months, plus unlimited social media, calls and texts. Its usual unlimited data contract costs £35 a month, so the social tariff would save you £150 over the six months. In total both the mobile and broadband social tariffs would save you almost £290. Council tax support – up to £4,300 Those struggling with council tax could get a major discount – or even have their bill wiped completely. Council Tax Support varies by area, but if you're on a low income or receiving Universal Credit you could save thousands. For example, the Royal Borough of Greenwich offers up to 100% council tax discounts for eligible pensioner households. Council tax is as high as £4,323.52 in Greenwich. Head to to check your eligibility. Energy bill help – up to £2,000 Energy firms like British Gas are offering hardship grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas has a Gas Energy Support Fund that pays up to £2,000, but applications have closed for now. Other suppliers like EDF, Octopus, Ovo, Next and Utilita have no set limit on payments. If you don't qualify through your supplier, charities like Turn2Us have searchable databases to help you find other grants. The Household Support Fund also covers energy costs, so you can reach out to your council now. Pregnancy grant – worth £500 Mums expecting their first child could claim a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant. It's available to those on Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits. You must apply within 11 weeks of the due date or six months after the baby is born. Print off the SF100 form online and get it signed by a midwife before posting. Support with travel and job applications – worth £150 Claimants can get 50% off travel across the UK by applying for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card. It's aimed at helping you get to job interviews if you're actively job hunting. The card is free and lasts for three months. There's also the Flexible Support Fund, which can cover costs like: Travel to interviews Job training (up to £150) Uniforms, work tools, and childcare Apply at your local JobCentre. Cheap gym memberships – worth £336 Some leisure centres offer Universal Credit claimants gym memberships from as little as £5 a month. For example, a Better Health national membership would cost you £70 usually. But if you get a concessionary membership it's £42 a month. That would save you £336 over the course of a year. Alternatively if you get a Better Flex Adult Concessionary membership for you get one activity booking for £5 a month. Everyone Active also offers discounted rates. Access is often off-peak and varies by location, so check with your nearest centre.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
12 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim this summer worth up to £4,300
PEOPLE on Universal Credit can get up to £4,300 worth of freebies and discounts this summer. Universal Credit is a monthly payment aimed at helping out unemployed and low-paid people. 1 Claimants can get upwards of £316.98 a month from the Government - but they might not know they're entitled to more help. From food vouchers to help with bills and even cheap days out, there is plenty of extra support available. Here's the full list of what you could be claiming this month. Household Support Fund – worth up to £500 The Household Support Fund has been extended until March 2026 – and it's dishing out direct payments of up to £500. The Government scheme is sharing out a pot of £742million between councils in England to help them support struggling households. Each council is setting its own rules on how it distributes the money, but many are offering vouchers or cash payments to help residents with food and energy bills. Ribble Valley Borough Council is giving out food vouchers worth between £200 to £500 to households with a combined income of less than £35,000 a year. Hartlepool Borough Council is awarding £100 food vouchers to families who have a child aged between two and 19 who is eligible for free school meals. Meanwhile City of Doncaster Council is giving a one-off payment of between £100 to £300 to families on Universal Credit. If you're outside of these areas, you should check your local council's website to see what's on offer and how to apply. Three key benefits you could be missing out on Cheap days out – save £108 You can get huge savings on days out across the UK if you're on Universal Credit. These are some examples of what you can get, but there's plenty on offer... ZSL London Zoo: Entry for £3. Adult tickets are usually priced from £27 so you can make a £24 saving Eden Project: £5 for adults or £1 for kids. Adult tickets are usually £38 and child tickets are £12, saving you £44 in total if you buy one of each Tower of London: £1 tickets for up to six people per household. It's usually £35.80 for an adult ticket, so this would save you £34.80 York Castle Museum: Free entry. It's usually £17 for an adult ticket As a single adult, you could save £108.80 in total by going to all of these attractions. But of course you'll save even more if you're taking other family members too. Healthy Start food help – worth £442 a year New parents or expectant mums can get up to £442 a year for essentials like fruit, veg and baby formula. It's part of the Healthy Start scheme, which gives you a prepaid card loaded with funds every four weeks. You can apply for it online if you're on benefits including Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit. Help to Save – get £1,200 bonus cash People on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit have access to the Government's Help to Save scheme. This gives you a 50% top-up when you put away savings. It's available on savings of up to £50 a month, meaning you can get a maximum of £2,400 over four years. The top-up is paid as a bonus at the end of the second and fourth years. Water bill help – worth £173 You could slash your water bill by hundreds through social tariffs or the WaterSure scheme. Every water supplier has social tariffs aimed at reducing costs for low-income families or people who use lots of water due to disability or large households. The eligibility criteria and level of support depends on your supplier. For example, Affinity Water offers a low-income fixed tariff (LIFT) for customers with a household income of less than £19,995 a year. The tariff is fixed at £143.80, but if you also receive a council tax reduction then your bill will be even lower at £95.80. Affinity Water said the average household bill for 2023/24 was up to £269, which would save you £173. It's not clear what the average household bill is for this year but it's likely to have gone up. You should contact your supplier directly to see what help is available. Some firms even offer free water-saving devices like shower timers and cistern bags to bring your usage down. Free prescriptions and healthcare – up to £119 If you're on Universal Credit, you might be eligible for free NHS prescriptions, saving you £9.90 a pop – or nearly £120 a year if you get your prescription monthly. You could also get: Free dental checks Free eye tests Travel reimbursement for medical appointments Free wigs or glasses Use the NHS online checker to see what you can get. Discounted broadband and mobile contracts – worth £290 You can also get social tariffs for your broadband and mobile contract if you're on Universal Credit. The cheapest deals start at £12.50 a month for broadband. Virgin Media Essential offers £12.50 a month for 15Mbps, with no set-up cost and a rolling 30-day contract. Its standard broadband deals start at £23.99 a month for a 24-month contract, so the social tariff would save you £137.88 a year. For mobile contracts, you can get social tariffs from the likes of EE, Smarty and Voxi. Voxi For Now costs just £10 a month and gives you unlimited data for six months, plus unlimited social media, calls and texts. Its usual unlimited data contract costs £35 a month, so the social tariff would save you £150 over the six months. In total both the mobile and broadband social tariffs would save you almost £290. Council tax support – up to £4,300 Those struggling with council tax could get a major discount – or even have their bill wiped completely. Council Tax Support varies by area, but if you're on a low income or receiving Universal Credit you could save thousands. For example, the Royal Borough of Greenwich offers up to 100% council tax discounts for eligible pensioner households. Council tax is as high as £4,323.52 in Greenwich. Head to to check your eligibility. Energy bill help – up to £2,000 Energy firms like British Gas are offering hardship grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas has a Gas Energy Support Fund that pays up to £2,000, but applications have closed for now. Other suppliers like EDF, Octopus, Ovo, Next and Utilita have no set limit on payments. If you don't qualify through your supplier, charities like Turn2Us have searchable databases to help you find other grants. The Household Support Fund also covers energy costs, so you can reach out to your council now. Pregnancy grant – worth £500 Mums expecting their first child could claim a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant. It's available to those on Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits. You must apply within 11 weeks of the due date or six months after the baby is born. Print off the SF100 form online and get it signed by a midwife before posting. Support with travel and job applications – worth £150 Claimants can get 50% off travel across the UK by applying for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount card. It's aimed at helping you get to job interviews if you're actively job hunting. The card is free and lasts for three months. There's also the Flexible Support Fund, which can cover costs like: Travel to interviews Job training (up to £150) Uniforms, work tools, and childcare Apply at your local JobCentre. Cheap gym memberships – worth £336 Some leisure centres offer Universal Credit claimants gym memberships from as little as £5 a month. For example, a Better Health national membership would cost you £70 usually. But if you get a concessionary membership it's £42 a month. That would save you £336 over the course of a year. Alternatively if you get a Better Flex Adult Concessionary membership for you get one activity booking for £5 a month. Everyone Active also offers discounted rates. Access is often off-peak and varies by location, so check with your nearest centre.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Families can get FREE white goods worth £400 or extra £500 cost of living cash this summer
Find out how to check what benefits you could be entitled to CLAIM IT Families can get FREE white goods worth £400 or extra £500 cost of living cash this summer – how to claim Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STRUGGLING families could be in for a much-needed summer boost. An extra £500 in free cash or white goods worth £400 are now up for grabs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Families could receive £400 worth of free white goods or free cash The money is part of the Brent Resident Support Fund (RSF), a council-run scheme aimed at helping residents hit hardest by the cost of living crisis. From food and fuel bills to mental health support and council tax arrears, the fund is designed to give a lifeline to those finding it tough to keep up with everyday expenses. And the best part is that those who qualify, don't have to pay a penny back. You could get help covering the cost of essentials like blankets, sanitary items, boiler repairs or even score a brand new washing machine or fridge if you've just moved into an unfurnished property. There's a cap of £400 for white goods, while the total payout for any one household is up to £500. But you'll have to act fast and make sure you meet the criteria. Who is eligible? To qualify, you need to: Live in Brent Be aged 18 or over Have less than £6,000 in savings Be struggling with day-to-day costs or facing an emergency Only one application is allowed per couple every 12 months, so if your partner's already applied this year, you'll need to wait your turn. To apply, you'll need to show recent bank statements for both you and your partner (if you have one), plus a recent utility bill. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now If you're applying for help with internet access or tech, you'll need to use a separate digital form. You can fill out the application online and if you get stuck, Brent Customer Services are on hand to help you through it. The RSF is funded by Brent Council and the government's Household Support Fund, which has been extended to help Brits through another tough year of rising costs. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. If you're battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline. The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living. Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households. Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments. In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families. Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying. Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income. The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer. And don't delay, the scheme has been extended until April 2025 but your council may dish out their share of the Household Support Fund before this date. Once the cash is gone, you may find they cannot provide any extra help so it's crucial you apply as soon as possible. It comes as more families turn to local authorities for help amid rocketing food prices, energy bills and housing costs. To check if you're eligible and start your application, visit and search for the Resident Support Fund. What if you don't live in Brent? The £742million Household Support Fund has been allocated to councils across England to help residents facing financial hardship. You do not need to live in Brent to apply. If you're on a low income, receiving benefits, or struggling to afford essentials, you may be eligible for support. The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills. Applications are handled by local councils. Some have already opened their schemes, while others are expected to launch soon. Residents are advised to check their local council's website or social media for updates. Many councils have dedicated Household Support Fund pages with details on how to apply. In some cases, councils may contact eligible households directly by post.
