Thousands of households are being sent a £270 cost of living payment to help with rising bills.

The money is being sent by Shropshire Council to local residents living in Shropshire as part of the Household Support Fund. This is a scheme that was set up in October 2021 to support vulnerable households with essentials like food and energy costs.

The main central Government has so far pledged £2billion in Household Support Fund cash since the scheme first started. The Household Support Fund will run until March 31, 2024. But there are no set guidelines on what help can be offered - instead, it is down to each local council to decide what support to give, and who gets it.

This means many families face a postcode lottery when it comes to what help is available. It is typically families on low incomes or benefits that are entitled to help. For example, Shropshire Council is giving £270 to around 6,000 low income households. To get the cash, you must fall into one of these categories:

  • Pensioners in receipt of Council Tax Support who are not in receipt of Pension Credit guarantee credit
  • Households in receipt of Council Tax Support where Carers Allowance is in payment
  • Households in receipt of Council Tax Support where a child is in receipt of a disability benefit
  • Households in receipt of Council Tax Support where a non-dependent is in receipt of disability benefits
  • Households where there is a carers disregard on the council tax
  • Households where there is a disabled band relief on the council tax

If the council has your payment details, the money will be sent to your bank automatically. Some households will receive a letter, asking them to apply - and the council says most people should receive the money by November 13.

A note on its website reads: "We're currently processing all of the eligible Household Support Fund applications that we've received. If you have not received the payment by 13 November 2023, please contact us on 0345 678 9002 to query this with the Benefits team."

Households with children who get benefits-related free school meals in Shropshire schools will get meal vouchers over the Christmas half term, spring half term and the Easter half term. Around 7,500 children are expected to get this support, which will be equivalent to £15 a week.

If you're not covered by the help we've listed above, Shropshire residents can submit an application for financial support through the Welfare Support Fund. This covers help with food, energy and water bills and wider essential costs.

If you don’t live in Shropshire, you should find out what support is available near you by getting in touch with your local council or checking their website.

Enter your postcode by using this link to see who your local authority is. Alternatively, you should be sent council tax letters yearly that state who you council is. Each council website should have a dedicated page set up with details of its Household Support Fund.

As an example, Kent County Council is handing out vouchers to the value of £100 which can be redeemed towards food, while Dorset Council is offering £150 in supermarket vouchers.

Ealing Council offers different types of support, for example, households in non-residential care where the council contributes to care costs will get £200 to put toward bills.