Yahoo News Thousands will get £200 payments until end of September for cost of living
New funding of £421 million from the Department for Work and Pensions to every local authority across England is being handed out to struggling households over the coming months. The Household Support Fund has been extended until the end of September, and includes a sum of £12.8 million awarded to Birmingham City Council.
After cabinet approval was given in April, Birmingham says its fund is being made available "to ease the financial burdens" faced by vulnerable people living in the city. The distribution of the cash is being handled via Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC).
BVSC points out that the allocation given to Birmingham will not be affected by the Section 114 bankruptcy notices issued in response to the city council's £1 billion financial crisis. It says it is giving out £200 payments to anyone who is eligible but hasn't already had one in the previous 12 months.
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Who is eligible for the £200 payments?
To qualify for the scheme:
You must be a Birmingham resident
You must be experiencing financial hardship, particularly with regard to covering costs linked to food and energy.
Your household must not have received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months
Those who are eligible must receive certain means-tested benefits from DWP, HMRC, NHS or the local authority, including:
Jobseeker's Allowance
Income Support
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Free School Meals Vouchers
NHS Healthy Start payments
BVSC said: "We will continue to accept applications until 30th September 2024, or until all funding has been exhausted if sooner. Please be advised that each household is only eligible to receive one £200 grant payment in a 12-month period. Any enquiry received before your eligibility date will be rejected.
"The application system actively monitors submitted applications looking for signs of fraud and details of any attempts to make fraudulent applications and/or fraudulently receive grant funding will be shared with West Midlands Police.
"BVSC will be distributing grants of up to £200 to Birmingham households, currently facing financial hardship, with the funds intended to help households with food costs and energy payments. Receiving a grant from this fund will not impact on any other benefits you may be receiving or may be entitled to."
Grant payments are made directly into a bank account in the applicant's name. If you don't have one, you will first need to open a basic bank account here.
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