Local authorities throughout England are distributing financial assistance to households struggling with essential costs.
The scheme forms part of the Department for Work and Pensions' Household Support Fund, a £742million pot allocated to councils nationwide to help residents cover food and energy expenses during winter months.
Surrey County Council set to open applications for supermarket vouchers worth up to £300 from tomorrow afternoon.
Surrey's Everyday Essentials E-voucher programme provides £200 to single-person households and £300 to families with children.
The Everyday Essentials E-voucher can be redeemed at a supermarket of the recipient’s choice and is valid at nine major stores, including Aldi, Asda, Farmfoods, Iceland, The Food Warehouse, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
Applications open at 1pm on Tuesday, though numbers are limited. Applicants must be over 18, hold savings below £2,000 on average, and earn under £27,007.50 annually before deductions.
Residents in Wyre can also access support through the fund, with supermarket vouchers available up to £75 depending on household composition.
Single adults qualify for £35, while those with one or two dependents receive £50. Larger families with three or more dependents are entitled to the maximum £75 amount.
To qualify in Wyre, applicants must be council tax payers with savings under £16,000. Income thresholds are set at £40,000 gross annually for single adults and £52,000 for couples.
Households to get £300 cost of living payment for shopping at nine major supermarkets
| GETTY/PAThe council has urged eligible residents to apply promptly, as the fund may close early if demand exceeds available resources.
Newcastle City Council is providing payments of £200 per household, rising to £300 for those receiving Child Benefit for someone in their home.
Kent County Council has made £90 vouchers available for energy costs or supermarket purchases, with the authority reminding applicants that the funding comes from taxpayers and should be spent on food and essential items only.
In Nottingham, residents can access £100 supermarket vouchers, with the council allocating £1.5million in support through the scheme. The next application window opened today and runs until Sunday at midnight.
The scheme forms part of the Department for Work and Pensions' Household Support Fund
| GETTYStaffordshire households can receive £300 paid directly to their utility provider, while Doncaster is offering up to £300 for food costs or £100 towards energy bills.
All schemes operate until 31 March 2026, though funding may be exhausted earlier.
Each local authority determines its own eligibility criteria and application processes independently, meaning support varies significantly across the country.
Some councils distribute funds through local charities and community groups, while others limit applications to one per household annually.
Cambridgeshire County Council is issuing £110 through direct payments or supermarket vouchers, and Manchester residents receiving Council Tax support alongside a disability benefit can access up to £130.
The Government states that funding targets anyone vulnerable or unable to afford essentials, noting that recipients do not need to be claiming benefits to qualify. Existing benefit payments remain unaffected by any Household Support Fund assistance received.
The scheme will eventually be replaced by a new Crisis and Resilience Fund, designed to prevent children going hungry outside term time.