Households can apply for free cost of living vouchers worth up to £140

CASH-STRAPPED households in Cheshire East can now get their hands on free cost of living vouchers and cash worth up to £140 to help with the cost of living.

The help is part of the latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF) – which has been extended and runs from April 2025 to March 2026.

ShutterstockThe help is part of the latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF)[/caption]

The scheme is designed to help financially vulnerable families and individuals struggling to pay for basics like food, energy and everyday essentials.

But unlike other councils, you can’t apply for the help yourself – a trusted professional must do it for you.

That could be someone from your school, GP, housing support team or a local charity. They’ll talk through your situation and, if eligible, send off a referral.

If approved, you could bag:

£60 in supermarket vouchers for a single person £100 in vouchers for couples Up to £140 for families – with £20 extra per child £100 in cash for energy bills, paid through the Post Office

Vouchers will be emailed within five working days of the referral and can be spent in supermarkets via codes sent by Hawk Select.

Cash payments come through Post Office Payout and will need to be accessed digitally.

You’ll need to have access to a smartphone or printer to redeem the codes – so make sure your professional has the right email address for you, or delays could happen.

On top of this, Cheshire East is also offering help with household essentials like white goods, beds and refurbished furniture, depending on availability.

There’s also a separate fuel support scheme for pensioners, with more details coming soon.

Meanwhile, those in need of exceptional cost support – such as people dealing with major hardship or debt – can be referred to a decision-making panel which awards extra help on a case-by-case basis.

To find out more or to speak to someone about a referral, chat to any professional who supports you – whether in education, health, housing or the voluntary sector. They’ll be able to advise if you qualify and submit the referral on your behalf.

You can also ask your trusted professional to contact the HSF team directly by emailing: [email protected].

Not in Cheshire East? Don’t panic – the £742million HSF has been shared across every council in England.

That means you may be able to claim free cash, supermarket vouchers or energy support from your local authority.

Check your council’s website for updates as more HSF schemes open up.

Recently, households in Redcar & Cleveland have also been urged to apply for support worth £230.

Whilst, those living in Worcestershire could be entitled to get up to £500 in cost of living help through the fund.

Other help you can claim

If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might qualify for other forms of help to cover energy bills or food.

Support may vary depending on your local council – so even if you don’t live in Cheshire East, it’s worth checking what’s on offer in your area.

Several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000.

This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF.

New parents might also be eligible for free food worth up to £442 a year to cover the cost of healthy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme.

Or, you can get an emergency food parcel from a Trussell Trust food bank.

You can find your nearest via www.trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.

To get a food parcel, you need a voucher from a community organisation like Citizens Advice or your GP. You can then exchange this voucher for a food parcel at the food bank.

It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for benefits if you haven’t already – billions of pounds’ worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.