North Yorkshire residents urged to claim Household Support Fund
The deadline is the 15th of August get the voucher aimed to alleviate pressures on finances
Residents who have been contacted to say they are eligible for household support funding in North Yorkshire are being encouraged to claim a voucher to alleviate pressures on their finances.
The Household Support Fund is designed to help people who have been identified as struggling with the increased cost of living.
The second phase of the scheme was launched in North Yorkshire several weeks ago, with letters sent out to households containing details of how to redeem their supermarket e-voucher.
The first phase of the scheme saw just over 9,300 households with children in the county receive an e-voucher payment. This most recent scheme was designed to reach a broader range of people in the county – in line with new national guidelines – and is expected to reach about 25,000 households, including pensioners and working age people without children.
So far, 75 per cent of people have claimed their voucher and the remainder of people are being encouraged to redeem their entitlement before the deadline of August 15.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said: “We would encourage everyone who is eligible to receive a Household Support Fund voucher payment to claim it.
“This is national funding and is specifically designed to help people with the rising costs of essential items. If you have received a letter to say you are eligible for a voucher, we would like to reassure you that many other people are in the same situation.”
People can select an e-voucher from one of a number of supermarket chains between now and August 15, when the scheme ends. Claiming the voucher will not affect any other benefits households may be receiving.
Payments are being made to:
• Families getting help to pay their council tax bill through the means tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 with a child under 19 living at home. They will receive a £150 e-voucher.
• People of state pension age receiving the maximum Council Tax Reduction Scheme discount as of 31 May 2022. They will receive a £150 e-voucher.
• Working age households without children who receive the maximum Council Tax Reduction Scheme discount as of 31 May 2022. They will receive a £75 e-voucher payment.
People eligible for the payments have already received a letter that sets out how to claim their e-voucher, but there is an online checker for anyone unsure if they qualify at www.northyorks.gov.uk/HouseholdSupportFund
Funding has also been distributed to pots available to residents struggling to afford necessities, even if they don’t meet the criteria for the Household Support Funding e-voucher. This includes the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund, which provides emergency financial support to those unable to meet essential living costs. Details are at www.northyorks.gov.uk/local-assistance-fund
Warm and Well in North Yorkshire can provide hardship funding, or help with minor repairs to make homes warmer. Visit www.warmandwell.org.uk, call 01609 767555 or email wnw@northyorkslca.org.uk
Further Household Support Funding has been distributed to foodbanks and other projects providing emergency food donations.