Residents in Cambridgeshire who receive certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits can now apply for a new £110 Cost of Living payment to help with essential expenses.
Who is eligible for the £110 support payment?
The financial support is being distributed by Cambridgeshire Council using money from the DWP's Household Support Fund. To qualify, applicants must live within the Cambridgeshire area and have £16,000 or less in savings, money, and investments.
Your total household income must also fall below thresholds published on the council's website. The council is particularly encouraging applications from two groups: disabled people facing higher utility bills due to medical equipment or transport costs, and those receiving Housing Benefit only, such as people in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) who use prepayment meters.
The key benefits that make you eligible include Housing Benefit and main disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Disability Living Allowance (DLA). If you live with a partner, you must make a joint application, and their income will be assessed alongside yours.
How will the £110 be paid to claimants?
Successful applicants can choose how they receive the £110 award. It can be paid as a single lump sum or split across different voucher types according to the claimant's preference.
The available options are:
- Paypoint or Post Office Cashout Voucher: A code is sent to your mobile phone, redeemable for cash at any PayPoint or Post Office counter.
- Supermarket Voucher: Sent via email for use at Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, or Tesco. Only Asda vouchers can be used for online shopping.
- Paypoint Energy Voucher: Sent to your mobile, for topping up prepayment meters (excluding British Gas customers) at a PayPoint outlet.
- BACS Bank Transfer: The money is sent directly to your bank account, which can take up to three working days to appear.
The council has stated that if you select a cashout voucher but they cannot contact you to confirm your choice between PayPoint or Post Office, a Paypoint voucher will be issued by default.
Applying for the Household Support Fund assistance
All applications will be assessed for eligibility, and the appropriate support will be awarded confidentially and fairly. The council emphasises that each case is treated with strict confidence and discretion.
This initiative is a direct response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, aiming to provide timely support to vulnerable households across Cambridgeshire. Residents are urged to check the council's official website for full details on income thresholds and to submit their applications.
