Thousands of low income households might be able to claim £160 in free cash to help with the cost of living through their local council.
The cash will be paid to struggling households by Cornwall Council through its Household Support fund.
The scheme is a Government initiative designed to help with the cost of living, with the help being issued through councils.
The scheme was recently extended until Spring next year after it was set to finish this March.
The extension will give each local a pot of cash to help those struggling with the cost of living and each authority gets to decide how it's spent, and to who they offer support.
Cornwall Council secured an extra £9million of funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which it says will be used to make one off cash payments to help with the rising cost of living.
Two payments of £80, totalling £160, will be made to certain groups over the course of 2023.
The first payment of £80 will be made between May and June 2023 and the second payment will be made between October and November.
Cornwall Council will be making these payments automatically to group specific groups which means people do not need to apply for the cash.
The first group to receive is pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit.
The second group is families who have children that are eligible for benefit-related free school meals between reception and year 11.
Cornwall Council will be making an overall payment of £160 per child over the course of 2023 - this means households will receive multiple £160 payments if they have more than one child that meets the criteria.
Alongside this, Cornwall Council will be using additional funds from their pot to help others who are struggling and these people can apply for help through the council's website.
Other local authorities across the UK are providing cash payments for those struggling in their area whilst others are providing food vouchers.
Warrington Borough Council will be giving eligible households eight separate cash payments over the course of the next year totalling £190 with the first £20 payment having been made before the Easter holidays.
Another £20 payment will be made this month.
Warrington Council will make these payments to these three groups automatically if they received money from the Household Support fund last year:
- Parents whose children are in receipt of free school meals and are claiming a qualifying benefit
- Individuals in receipt of Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit (in the current financial year)
- Pensioners in receipt of either Pension Credit or Council Tax Support/Housing Benefit
