DWP payments worth hundreds are available for people who don’t get benefits

Thousands of Britons could be eligible for cost of living payments despite not being eligible for certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

Some people who don’t qualify for the Government scheme could instead be eligible to claim support through the Household Support Fund, allocated by the DWP to councils in England.

The funding, which forms a pot currently worth £842million after an extension in April, is targeted at vulnerable households and is typically used to help them with the cost of essentials like groceries, toiletries, and warm clothes, as well as provide further support with energy bills.

The proportion of funding allocated to each council can depend on the size of the catchment area, population, and needs, meaning councils receive different amounts.

However, they each decide how best to spend their allocation of the fund – now worth £2billion across its lifetime – by drawing from local knowledge and making direct contact with people in the community.

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Claimants usually have to check what they can get and how their council will pay the amount as the vouchers or grants on offer vary by location.

People on low income typically receive the help, but people don’t necessarily need to be claiming DWP benefits, such as Universal Credit, to be eligible.

Some councils have hundreds up for grabs depending on a person’s circumstance and DWP benefits aren’t always a requirement.

For example, Blackpool is offering £200 to £300 to help families struggling with energy costs, and there is “no requirement to be in receipt of Universal Credit or other DWP benefits” to apply to this fund.

Wealdon Council is offering a one-off payment of £350 to constituents aged 18 or over in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or council tax reduction, who aren’t getting any additional means-tested benefits. The scheme opened for applications on May 2, 2023.

Sheffield City Council is also accepting applications for its Household Support Fund and doesn’t require claimants to be in receipt of benefits. The fund can be used to help with food and essentials, telephone and broadband bills, energy costs, school uniforms, and white goods to name a few.

Hillingdon Council will be making payments of up to £900 to residents who are in receipt of Housing Benefits only and who are not eligible for the DWP’s cost of living payment.

Payments will be distributed in three instalments and the council will use the Housing Benefit database to locate these customers, so there is no need to apply.

People can find out if and what their local councils are offering through the Household Support Fund by visiting the respective websites.