Millions of pounds worth of cost of living payments are going unclaimed from local councils, a new Freedom of Information (FOI) request has shown. These payments are part of the Government’s Household Support Fund, which was extended for another year to help families as costs remain high.
The Government added an additional £421 million to the fund for this round, which is distributed to councils in England. The pot is available from October 1, 2024, until March 31, 2025. Councils decide how to allocate their portion of the fund, with some using it to offer grants for energy and water bills. Manchester City Council is still offering households up to £200 to support with living costs, but there are only days left to claim it.
If households meet the criteria of three different groups, Manchester City Council will hand them a cash payment.
Group 1 offers £100 to households receiving Council Tax Support where at least one person receives a disability benefit, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP), and they are not included in either Group 2 or Group 3.
Group 2 offers £150 to households receiving Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit who have not qualified for a government Winter Fuel Payment based on their income and were aged 66 to 79 on September 23, 2024.
Group 3 offers £200 to households receiving Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit who have not qualified for a government Winter Fuel Payment based on their income and were aged 80 or over on September 23, 2024.
Households in Manchester can apply for the support here.
However, more councils across the country are still offering varying forms of support. Britons are urged to check their local authority’s website or contact their office to see what assistance is available. People can use this postcode checker to find out what council they fall under.
The support fund is currently set to close on March 31, 2025, meaning people have less than a week to make a claim. Figures obtained by lender Creditspring through an FOI request found that around £65.2 million of the fund is still unclaimed across councils in England. Over £20 million of this outstanding amount is available from just 10 councils.
Neil Kadagathur, CEO and co-founder of Creditspring, said: “It’s been another punishing winter for household finances. Schemes such as the Household Support Fund can provide a lifeline for those struggling to afford rising bills, but with millions left unclaimed, it is clear that vulnerable people are missing out on much-needed support.”
