Redcar & Cleveland Council hope Government cost of living cash will be distributed fully by March
Redcar and Cleveland Council says a near £1.3m allocation it received from the Government to help residents struggling with the cost of living will be distributed in full by March.
The Government announced in September last year that its Household Support Fund would be extended with £421m being made available to councils in England.
The fund is primarily designed to help households most in need with the cost of energy bills, particularly those who may not be eligible for other support already made available.
The council has used so-called urgency provisions to ensure a scheme to manage the funding is rolled out as soon as possible and so payments can made quickly.
A spokeswoman said £750,000 had been spent so far with about 12,000 households receiving payments in December.
More payments will be made in March by which point the council anticipates it will have fully allocated the Government funding.
However, the claims process remains open and any income low residents can still make a claim, the spokeswoman added.
They should visit https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/household-support-fund for more information and how to access payments.
Households with low incomes and in credit deficit – meaning their essential financial outgoings are more than any money coming in – may be entitled to help.
Anyone receiving council tax support will get a one-off set rate payment of £50 if they are a household with children.
If a dependent child is in the household, that figure rises to £100.
Meanwhile, discretionary payments of between £50 and £200 are available for those that are not entitled to council tax support.