Latest round of cost of living help announced by council

Payments for struggling households, funding for winter warm spaces and food and fuel vouchers are available in York from this month to help with the cost of living.

Support included in York Council’s latest round of cost of living help also includes funding for financial advice including helping people take up unclaimed benefits.

A council report on the package of support, worth more than £1m, stated that the funding would go towards helping financially vulnerable families over the next six months.

The launch of the latest round of aid comes after the Government confirmed the extension of the Household Support Fund until the end of March.

The fund, now in its sixth round, provides councils with money to provide support to families struggling with living costs including for food, energy, utilities and other essentials.

York’s package of support includes £500,000 for £115 payments which are set to be made directly to households in receipt of council tax support discounts.

A further £180,000 has been set aside for grants to households who do not qualify for council tax support but are struggling with the cost of living.

The money is intended to help households including families with children, pensioners who no longer qualify for winter fuel payments, disabled people and those hit with unforeseen financial issues.

Applications for the grants are set to open on Friday, November 1 and payments will be limited to one per household.

A further £70,000 is set to fund food and fuel vouchers.

A total of £80,000 will be used to give advice to people to help them boost their income, including directing them towards benefits they may be entitled to.

Community food support including food banks is set to be supported with £40,000 while another £40,000 has been earmarked for warm spaces.

Warm spaces are places which aim to offer somewhere for people struggling to afford their heating to go during winter.

Two Talk Money campaigns, which provide cost of living help, advice and support, are set to be run using £60,000 with £10,000 set aside for energy help.

A total of £30,000 is being in reserve to cover any unforeseen costs.

More details about York Council’s Household Support Fund and how to apply for help are available here: https://www.york.gov.uk/HouseholdSupportFund.