UK households can claim free £200 for Cost of Living but 'funds limited'

Thousands of households can claim a free £200 payment to help with the ongoing Cost of Living. Despite the Labour Party taking power last week, UK households still face crippling costs with their bills, from energy to groceries and fuel.

The outgoing Conservative Party has handed cash to local authorities and councils nationwide to give their local residents as they see fit. On its website, Newcastle City Council - situated in the North East - explained: "We have received funding from the UK Government's Household Support Fund.

"This funding will be used to support our residents between April 2024 and September 2024." The local authority added: "We will provide children entitled to free school meals with food vouchers for Summer School Holidays 2024.

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"Hardship payments for residents in significant financial difficulty. We have limited funding to help residents who are suffering from significant financial difficulty. To be eligible for a one off £200 payment from the Household Support Fund (HSF) you must be a resident in Newcastle upon Tyne."

The council adds you "must be the main householder (i.e. responsible for the household bills), and have a deficit in their budget (i.e. have more money going out than coming in), and seek advice from one of our Advice Compact partners to address the issues causing the deficit in budget."

"If you meet the above criteria, a member of our Advice Compact can submit a referral to the fund for you. Residents cannot self refer. This funding is limited," the council goes on to explain on its website in a guide to the scheme, which was announced by the Tory government.

It added: "Support of localised Cost of Living and discretionary schemes. Funding will also be used to support local cost of living and discretionary schemes being delivered by Newcastle City Council."