Thousands of households can apply for up to £150 in supermarket vouchers within DAYS – see how to claim

THOUSANDS of households have just a few days to wait before they can apply for the £150 supermarket voucher.

Help comes from the £842 million Household Support Fund (HSF).

first

The pot of money comes from the Government that has shared it between councils in the UK.

They then decide how to distribute their shares – some hand out offers while others make direct cash bank transfers.

Dorset Council is offering thousands of residents £150 supermarket vouchers to help cover living costs.

Coupons are being distributed by the Dorset Citizens Advice branch but you can also apply via the Dorset Council website.

Importantly, however, eligible residents can only apply from five key dates:

• May 3, 2023
• June 6, 2023
• July 4, 2023
• August 2, 2023
• September 7, 2023

That means the next day you can apply for help is July 4, just a few days away.

When all vouchers have been allocated to each window, it will close. Applications open at 9am every day.

You cannot apply for a coupon within six months of your previous registration.

So, if you applied for help in November 2022, you won’t be eligible for this round until May 2023 onwards.

You will need ID documents ready to upload upon registration, including birth certificate, driver’s license, passport and council tax bill.

You can only claim one voucher worth £150 per household.

Successful applicants will receive their vouchers within six to eight weeks of submitting their application.

If you need help completing the online application, you can call Dorset Council’s customer service team on 01305 221000 or email them at customerservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

Alternatively, you can call the Dorset Citizens Advice branch on 0800 144 8848.

Who is eligible?

You can only apply for the £150 voucher if you live in Dorset.

If you’re not sure if you live in the county, you can use the government’s council locator on the county website.

You just need to enter your postcode and it will tell you who your local council is.

You must also prove you are on a low income. So you will be eligible to apply if you have:

• annual household net income of less than £30,000 and
• save less than £16,000 and
• have not applied for a previous Household Assistance Fund payment within the past six months

Net income is the amount your household receives after any taxes or deductions.

Dorset Council says any calculation of your annual net income must not include the Individual Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer Allowance or Child Allowance.

If you are unsure whether your household income would breach the £30,000 threshold, you should apply for help in case you qualify.

What if I don’t live in Dorset?

You can still get help if you live outside of Dorset, but the help you can get will vary from region to region.

The application process also varies depending on where you live.

Households in Cheshire East line up for £160 cash aid.

Council there was awarded a £4.4 million share of HSF to distribute among residents.

Meanwhile, households in Torridge are lining up to receive payments worth up to £1,000.

What other help can I get?

If you do not qualify for assistance through the Household Assistance Fund, you may be entitled to a cost-of-living payment.

The government is handing out payments to millions of people this year and by 2024. They are worth £900, £300 and £150, for a total of £1,350.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to all three.

The £900 payout was split into three installments worth £301, £300 and £299.

The first part was made for millions of people.

Parts two and three will be made available to most people this fall and spring 2024.

Millions of pensioners will also receive a cost of living payment of £300, while people with disabilities will receive a payment of £150.

Meanwhile, a council in London is offering a £250 free cash payout through a £1m hardship fund.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and interact with consumer groups and other team members.