UK households handed £300 cost of living payments before deadline | Personal Finance | Finance

Households across the UK are being handed £300 cash from this month to help with the cost of living.

The government’s Household Support Fund has been extended for another four months, offering families hard up against gas and electricity bills, petrol costs and food prices as well as council tax increases the chance to boost their finances.

The money is given out by local councils using government funding and each area gets given a different amount to split across its residents based on population size.

West Berkshire Council has been given £695,000 with £253,000 ringfenced for households to claim the cash directly, which equals £300 per couple or £150 for a single person.

You can only apply once between now and September, though, and the final decision based on your financial situation will be made by the council.

In other areas, Wakefield Council is making £75 shopping vouchers available to families, the disabled and single people who are on benefits. Coventry Council is making payments of £140 available to claim up to three times between May and September.

Other areas are still to announce their Household Support Fund payment schemes but you can contact your local council to see if you can apply.

In its announcement, the Government explained how the Household Support Fund is going to work for 2024.

It said “DWP is providing funding to County Councils and Unitary Authorities under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, to administer The Fund and provide assistance to households most in need.”