UK households given £500 cost of living supermarket vouchers in August | Personal Finance | Finance

Households across the UK are being offered up to £500 in cost of living vouchers in June to spend on food at supermarkets, energy bills and other essentials. The Household Support Fund has been extended for 2025 from now until March 2026, though each council sets its own application deadline.

The scheme sees the DWP send funds to local councils across the UK for the authorities to distribute to those in need as they see fit. Because the scheme gives autonomy to local authorities, each local council has a different set of eligibility criteria as well as a different amount of money it will give out. This August, Ribble Valley Borough Council in Lancashire says it is set to reopen applications for its Household Support Fund from August 18.

It say it will allow households to apply for £200 vouchers for single households, £300 vouchers for households who have two or more adults, or £500 vouchers households with children.

It says about its eligibility rules: “Eligible households who are struggling financially and have a combined household income of less than £35,000 per year can apply for a food voucher.”

Nottingham Council is offering Household Support Fund vouchers from this Monday, August 4 from 10am.

The fund will give eligible households £98 energy bill vouchers, or £75 supermarket vouchers.

Nottingham Council makes a certain quantity of vouchers available on each date, so if you miss the vouchers on August 4, you must wait until September 1 to get one from the next batch of 2,300 vouchers.

Though Warrington Borough Council has not made public the amount it pays, it says it will make its next payment to eligible households in early August.

Every local authority decides how to spend the money given to it by the DWP for the scheme, so has its own rules and gives out different amounts.

Some councils stipulate that they will give the money to those on benefits, but you don’t necessarily need to be claiming any benefits to qualify for support according to the government’s own rules on Household Support Fund eligibility.

The UK government’s website says: “Funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

“If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme.

“Councils decide how to run their schemes. There may be differences in eligibility criteria, if or how you need to apply, who money is given to.

“For example, some councils share out money through local charities and community groups and some limit household applications to one per year.”

Check here to see if you can apply.