THOUSANDS of households can get up to £500 in free cash to help with debt.

The support comes as part of the Household Support Fund – a £421million government pot to help those on low income.

Many hard-up households are getting support from their local council through the scheme to help with the cost of living.

That includes money for food, energy, fuel and other essentials.

Residents of Camden Council are being offered up to £500 to pay for such costs, which can be paid in up to two payments over a 12-month period. 

There are options to receive cash into your bank account, vouchers or cost-cutting appliances such as a slow cooker or an air fryer.

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However, do note how much you receive will depend on your individual circumstances and the size of your home.

Who's eligible?

To apply, you'll need to prove you're on low income and urgently need the help.

This might mean printing a recent bank statement from earliest three months ago or providing proof of benefits.

You'll also need to be over 18 (unless you live independently at 16 and over) and you should've been living in Camden for at least six weeks.

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You can only apply for one payment per household, and the person applying must be responsible for paying Council Tax.

How can I apply?

To apply, you can call Citizens Advice Camden on 0808 278 7835.

If you live in a council home, you can speak to your housing officer about it.

You can also reach out to an advice partner, whose contacts you can find on the council website.

Keep in mind Citizens Advice Camden can also offer support on:

• reducing your energy bills  
• benefits, budgeting and debt 
• finding a job or increasing your income  
• childcare 
• mental health and wellbeing 
• accessing the internet or a digital device 

What if I don't live in Camden?

Your local council will likely have its own version of the scheme going and you should get in contact with them to find out more.

But be quick – while the deadline for councils to hand out the latest tranche of HSF cash support is March 31, 2023, it's done on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For example, thousands of residents in Plymouth are due electronic vouchers to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.

And eligible households can get up to £180 in free supermarket vouchers depending on their circumstances.

Thousands of residents in North Yorkshire are also due electronic supermarket vouchers worth up to £325.

More debt advice

There are plenty of ways you can get debt advice and support if you're struggling.

For example, Citizens Advice is a national organisation with more than 20,000 volunteers who can help with everything from finding out what benefits you're entitled to, to claiming compensation for a cancelled flight.

You can find your nearest branch using the tool on its website, or you can contact them by phone on 0800 133 8848.

Its online chat tool is also available from 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday.

Another one is StepChange, which offers support and guidance to help you take control of your money.

You can do it online or over the phone, and it's completely confidential – you can call on 0300 303 5300.

You'll need to provide details of your debts, income and household spending to get a clear picture of where your money goes.

It can talk you through different options such as debt management plans (DMP), individual voluntary arrangements (IVA), bankruptcy, and debt relief orders (DRO) if they are appropriate.

National Debtline also offers free and confidential advice to people in England, Wales and Scotland.

You can contact it online or over the phone on 0808 808 4000, between 9am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Otherwise, you can use a benefits calculator, which can help you work if you might be entitled to extra cash.

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Organisation such as Mind, Samaritans and Anxiety UK are also available if debt worries are affecting your mental health.

Find out if there is financial support that could help you too.

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