THOUSANDS of struggling households have just days left until they can apply for up to £375 free cash to help with the cost of living.
The help comes via the Household Support Fund, a giant £500million fund that has been shared between councils in England.
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Each council's allotment can then be shared between hard-up households.
That means what you are entitled to, and whether you qualify, varies depending on where you live.
But, in most cases you will be in line for help if you're on certainbenefits, on a low income or vulnerable.
Tandridge Council has now announced how it is distributing its latest share of the fund.
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The Surrey authority will open applications from June 3. Here's everything you need to know.
What help is on offer and who is eligible?
Tandridge Council is offering qualifying households with children £375 and those without £175.
Payments will be made via bank transfer within 10 to 20 working days of any applications being approved.
The council said it might take longer than this if additional checks are required or you don't supply the right documentation.
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There are a number of scenarios where you might be eligible for help.
The council's website says this includes:
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- Residents with dependent children.
- Residents with disability or health problems.
- Households with at least one person who is receiving their state pension.
- Lone parents.
- Those who are, or are at risk of becoming, homeless including those living in temporary accommodation.
- Survivors of domestic abuse.
- Those leaving care or hospital.
- Those facing an emergency crisissuch as, a recent fire or flood.
How to apply
You can apply from 10am on June 3, when the fund opens.
You can submit an online application form found on Tandridge Council's website.
If you don't have access to the internet, you can visit the council's offices in Oxted.
You can also call the council on 01883 772000.
You'll need some documentation to hand before you do apply though.
You will need to provide your:
- Contact details.
- Date of birth.
- National Insurance number.
- Bank details, including sort code and account number.
- Your bank statements from March-May 2024. This must show all your transactions in and out of the account.
- Income, savings or benefit information. We cannot accept an image of your bank account balance.
Can I get help if I don't live in Tandridge?
The simple answer is yes. But what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live.
Some councils are distributing their share of the fund via different avenues.
For example, residents in Cornwall can get up to £80 in cash payments direct to their bank accounts.
Meanwhile, Coventry City Council is offering households up to £140 in free cash.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Some residents in Herefordshire can get up to £500 in cash and Medway households can get up to £225 in supermarket vouchers.
If you are on a low income or benefits, it's worth seeing if you might be eligible for help.
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Contact your local council to find out if there's any support on offer and if you are eligible.
Remember, you can find what council area you fall under by using the Government's online council locator tool.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
