Latest news with #supermarketvouchers
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Households can apply for £320 cost of living supermarket vouchers to spend in Waitrose and M&S in DAYS
HOUSEHOLDS will soon be able to apply for free supermarket vouchers to spend in Waitrose and M&S worth up to £320. Families struggling with the cost of living can apply for the support through the government's Household Support Fund. 1 The help is part of a wider essential support scheme and is only awarded once to any eligible household. Each council has its own share of the £742million, which they can dole out to residents in need. Eligibility criteria for the support varies but usually you need to be on a low income or on benefits. Residents of North Northamptonshire will soon be able to apply for supermarket vouchers worth up to £320. Tokens can be used in a wide range of shops from Sainsbury's and M&S to Waitrose and Asda. The scheme was closed due to a high number of applications, but is due to reopen again in just a few days. The second window of applications will re-open on August 4, 2025. The amount you receive depends on a number of factors, including how many people you live with and your income. For example, a person who lives alone will be given a voucher worth £150. Meanwhile, a house with two residents could receive £260 for their food shop. Nationwide £100 Bonus, Tesco Clubcard Voucher Deadline, and EDF Free Energy Returns – Money News Today If you live in a home with three residents or more you will receive a voucher worth £320. To apply you will need to have a National Insurance number and provide proof of your income with a bank statement. The council said submissions are expected to take two months to process. If approved, you voucher will be sent to your email address. If you are keen to apply visit, for more information. What if I don't live in North Northamptonshire? The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. So, if you don't live in this area but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help. This is because the fund was originally set up to help those on low incomes or classed as vulnerable. What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers. For example, residents in Worcestershire can apply for support worth up to £500 to help with water and energy costs. Devon County Council has also issued supermarket vouchers worth more than £90 to 22,000 families with children on free school meals. The £90 is equivalent to £15 per week for the six week school holiday. Households in Redcar & Cleveland can also now apply for support worth up to £230. 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.
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Supermarket vouchers worth up to £180 landing on doormats NOW for summer – are you getting one?
THOUSANDS of households need to look out for supermarket vouchers landing on doormats worth up to £180. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figures for June confirmed food prices have soared in the last 12 months. 1 But there are ways to drive down the cost of your weekly shop, starting with help through the Household Support Fund (HSF). The £742million fund has been shared between councils in England who then decide how to allocate their share. Some are directing cash payments to residents in need while others are distributing supermarket vouchers to cover the summer holidays. We've rounded up what some local authorities are offering below. We won't have covered all the councils offering help, so if your local authority isn't included it's worth checking with it to see what you are eligible for. Most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to the Household Support Fund where you'll find details on who is eligible and what you're in line for. You can find what local council area you fall under by visiting That said, below are some of the councils offering qualifying households supermarket vouchers. Bracknell Forest Council Schools in Bracknell are automatically distributing supermarket vouchers to children registered for free school meals. These vouchers have been paid for through Bracknell Forest Council's allotment of the Household Support Fund. The council has not confirmed how much the vouchers are worth. Wakefield Metropolitan District Counci Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is issuing supermarket vouchers worth £50 to families receiving council tax support. The vouchers are being issued via letters on July 21 and take up to seven days to arrive. Full instructions on how to redeem the vouchers will be included in the letters. Once the voucher has been redeemed, it doesn't have to be used all at once and can be used several times until it is spent. Nottingham City Council Nottingham City Council is distributing £75 supermarket vouchers to households each month until March 2026. There is a limit on the number of vouchers being shared each month meaning you have to act fast to claim one. Applications for this month's vouchers opened on July 7 so may all have been allocated for July. Nottingham City Council has said the dates applications for vouchers will open between August and next March will be confirmed "later in July". Ealing Council Ealing Council is giving supermarket vouchers worth £90 to families with children on benefits-related free school meals this month. The vouchers are worth £90 per child meaning you could get £180 if you have two kids. You don't need to apply for the vouchers as they are being sent automatically to emails or as letters. The council's partner, Blackhawk, is issuing a 16-digit personalised code and instructions on how to redeem the vouchers on the Blackhawk website - Devon County Council Devon County Council has issued supermarket vouchers worth more than £90 to 22,000 families with children on free school meals. The £90 is equivalent to £15 per week for the six week school holiday. The council has said the vouchers can be redeemed in major supermarkets but hasn't said which ones. Portsmouth City Council Portsmouth City Council is issuing £50 supermarket vouchers to children on benefits-related free school meals. You might also be eligible if your child is not on free school meals and you're on a low income, and can apply for the vouchers from the end of the school term. You can also forward your email address to the council and will be contacted when the application window opens. More details can be found via Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Families on free school meals are eligible for supermarket food vouchers being distributed by schools in the area. You do not need to apply as they are being issued automatically. Food vouchers may also be available for children under five years if certain criteria is met. To receive a voucher, children must be living in Bournemouth, Christchurch, or Poole and meet one of the following criteria: currently claiming 2 year old early education funding at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term currently claiming Early Years Pupil Premium funding for 3 and 4 year olds at an early years setting in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole during the term (this is different to the early education funding available to all 3 and 4 year olds) currently have an open case with a social worker or Early Help family support worker and are of pre-school age Food vouchers for this group of families have to be applied for, with more details on the BCP Council website. Household Support Fund explained Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund. 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. The last round ran until the end of March 2025, but was extended. The most current round is running between April 2025 and March 2026.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Food vouchers for North Northamptonshire paused due to demand
One-off supermarket vouchers have been paused by a council due to a high demand in Northamptonshire Council said they had paused new applications for a three- week period due to a large number of people applying since 23 families, pensioners, and people with disabilities were able to apply, with the amount dependent on the size of the household. Gregory Wilcox, Reform UK councillor and executive member for communities at the authority, said: "The Household Support Fund (HSF) applications are currently paused due to high demand and to enable our staff to work through the existing waiting list." The vouchers were funded by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and were available due to the seventh tranche of the HSF.A single person could apply for a £150 voucher, a two-person household £260 and a household with three people or more £320. It comes as prices rose by more than expected in the year to June, pushing inflation to 3.6% in UK, the highest it has been since January prices for food and clothing, air and rail fares - and a lower drop in fuel prices than this time last year - contributed to higher inflation, official figures Wilcox added: "This means new applications may not be accepted immediately while the authority processes existing requests and manage their allocated funds."The authority said residents who had applied for the "wider essentials support" since 23 June did not need to apply Northamptonshire Council said applications were expected to take two months to process and would be dealt with in order of the date they were were due to re-open on 4 August. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands of households on low incomes can apply for free supermarket vouchers worth up to £320
THOUSANDS of low income households can apply for free supermarket vouchers worth up to £320. The help comes via the latest round of Household Support Fund which is worth £742million to councils across England. 1 Councils have been given a share of the fund and are now distributing it to households in need. The eligibility criteria varies depending on where you live, but you will usually qualify for help if you're on a low income or benefits. North Northamptonshire Council has opened applications for hard-up households to apply for supermarket vouchers worth up to £320. Single person households are eligible for £150, two person households £260 and those with three or more people in the home qualify for £320. You must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for the vouchers. For example, your household must have a total income, including all benefit payments, below certain thresholds. Households with two adults and no children must have a total income of less than £658. Households with a single adult and two children cannot have a total income of £890 or more. You also cannot have money, savings and investments totalling over certain amounts if you want to qualify. More details on the eligibility criteria and applications can be made via Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence North Northamptonshire Council says it takes around 30 minutes to apply and two months to process any applications. The council will contact you by phone or email with any follow up questions. If it needs more information from you you have to provide it within seven days or your application will be denied. If approved, vouchers will be issued directly to the email address of the main person who applied. Can I get help if I live outside North Northamptonshire? Whether you can get help via the Household Support Fund depends on where you live. Because each council sets its own eligibility criteria, it's a postcode lottery as to whether you'll get help. However, the chances are if you're on benefits or a low income you will be able to get help. The best thing to do is visit your local council's website and try to navigate to the Household Support Fund page. Once there, read the eligibility criteria and see if you can apply. Or, you can contact your local council's customer service helpline to inquire. The latest round of Household Support Fund runs until March 31, 2026, and some councils have already opened up for applications. Others are still deciding how to distribute their share of the fund though. Households in Birmingham are being urged to apply for £200 payments. Meanwhile, hard-up pensioners in Hull are set to receive £200 in free cash. Other help if you're on a low income If you're not eligible for the Household Support Fund, there is an abundance of other help on offer. It's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits if you haven't already - it could boost your bank balance by thousands of pounds a year. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. If you're struggling with the cost of food, check where your nearest food bank is, to help you get cupboard staples for less. The Trussell Trust has hundreds of food banks across the UK, and you can find your nearest one here -
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands of households to be handed supermarket vouchers worth up to £150 in DAYS – are you eligible?
CASH-STRAPPED families in Camden are in line for free supermarket vouchers worth up to £150 per child this year — and payments start landing in DAYS. The support comes from the latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF), which has been extended until March 2026 to help struggling Brits cover essentials like food and energy. 1 Under the scheme, families who get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support — and have kids up to age 18 — can get vouchers three times a year to help cover food costs during term time. You'll get: £45 per child in February (Spring term) £60 in May (Summer term) £45 in September (Autumn term) That adds up to a whopping £150 per child, per year — and households with more than one child could be hundreds of pounds better off. But there's a catch — your child must be registered for free school meals, even if you already get benefits like Universal Credit or Tax Credits. So if you haven't signed them up yet, now's the time. The scheme is aimed at helping struggling families keep food on the table without falling further into debt. And it's not just food support on offer. Low-income pensioners in Camden are also in line for a £300 Post Office voucher to help with heating, food and other bills this winter — no application needed. There's more help available too. Residents can apply for an emergency payment of up to £500 if they're in serious financial difficulty and can't afford essentials. That's also funded by the HSF, but you'll need to register for Camden's Money Advice Service first. Once signed up, you can apply for both the emergency cash and vouchers — but only one application at a time. To apply or find out more, visit or call 020 7974 4444. Not in Camden? You could still be eligible. The government has dished out £742million in HSF funding across councils in England — so check your local council's website for updates. That means you may be able to claim free cash, supermarket vouchers or energy support from your local authority. Check your council's website for updates as more HSF schemes open up. Recently, households in Redcar & Cleveland have also been urged to apply for support worth £230. Whilst, those living in Worcestershire could be entitled to get up to £500 in cost of living help through the fund. Other help you can claim If you're not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might qualify for other forms of help to cover energy bills or food. Support may vary depending on your local council – so even if you don't live in Cheshire East, it's worth checking what's on offer in your area. Several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000. This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF. New parents might also be eligible for free food worth up to £442 a year to cover the cost of healthy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme. Or, you can get an emergency food parcel from a Trussell Trust food bank. You can find your nearest via To get a food parcel, you need a voucher from a community organisation like Citizens Advice or your GP. You can then exchange this voucher for a food parcel at the food bank. It's also worth checking if you're eligible for benefits if you haven't already - billions of pounds' worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.
