THOUSANDS of households will qualify for £125 free cash this month and others will be able to apply for the payment.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £842million.
Reading Borough Council is one of the next councils to help with the cost of living payments after Dorset opened applications yesterday.
The central pot of money has come from the Government and been shared across councils in England, they will distribute their share to residents in need.
That means what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live, although in most cases help is being offered to those on a low income or benefits such as Universal Credit.
Some local authorities are making bank transfers while others are offering help in the way of food or utility bill vouchers.
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Nottingham, Torbay, and West Northamptonshire have all had application periods open this side of Christmas.
Reading Borough Council will be providing their support to two groups of people, households with children in receipt of free school meals and care leavers.
This is the second £125 voucher being sent out by the council under the scheme after the first was sent in June.
The voucher will be automatically sent to those eligible from December and households who receive the voucher will have until February 29 next year to cash it in at a post office.
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But, use it or lose it as you won’t be able to cash the voucher after this date has passed.
If you don't qualify for the payment you may still be able to get it by applying for financial help with the council between December and March.
The council says it will be prioritising low-income households who are struggling financially.
If you are in Reading and eligible to claim help, you can make an application here. To make an application you will need to provide information on the following criteria:
- Your Council Tax account number
- Your Council Tax Property Reference Number
- National Insurance number for you and your partner
- Details of income/benefits for you and your partner
- Details of essential expenditure for you and your partner
- Details of any savings you and your partner have
Who else can get help?
You can still get help if you don't live in the areas mentioned above.
In most cases, if you're on benefits like Universal Credit or Income Support, you'll be in line for help via the HSF.
But you should contact your local council to see what is on offer.
If you don't know what local authority area you fall under, you can use the government's locator tool on its website.
You just have to type in your postcode and it will bring up your local council.
What other help is coming?
There's other financial help at hand beyond the Household Support Fund.
Millions of pensioners are in line for a bumper Winter Fuel Payment over the colder months.
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The cash boost started being distributed from November 1 and all should be made by the end of December.
You qualify for the payment if you were born on or before September 25, 1957, and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 18 to 24 September 2023, known as the qualifying week.
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