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THE COST OF LIVING PAYMENTS ARE FUNDED BY THE HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT FUND (HSF), DELIVERED VIA THE DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS (DWP) 18:40, 02 Jun 2025 Households around the UK are being

offered up to £300 in cost of living payments in June to spend on food, energy bills and other essentials. The Household Support Fund has been extended for 2025 from now until March 2026,

though each local authority sets its own application deadline, reports Express.co.uk. The scheme sees the DWP issue funds to local councils across the UK for the authorities to distribute to

those in need as they see fit. READ MORE: NATIONWIDE ISSUES ALERT OVER £200 PAYMENTS GOING OUT TO CUSTOMERS GET BREAKING NEWS ON BIRMINGHAMLIVE WHATSAPP, CLICK THE LINK TO JOIN Because the

scheme gives autonomy to local authorities, each local council has a different set of eligibility criteria as well as a different amount of cash it will give out. Article continues below

Right now, Doncaster Council is offering up to £300 to households with three or more children, or payments of £100 to parents with one child and £200 for two children, as long as they are in

receipt of Child Benefit for the child. The council is also paying £100 to households 'with or without children' to help with energy bills if they qualify for Housing Benefit, a

Council Tax reduction, Universal Credit including the housing element, or means tested free school meals. Doncaster Council said: "The Government has provided further Household Support

Funding to Local Authorities for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 to support those households most in need with payments towards food, household energy bills and wider essentials.

"If you are eligible for an automatic payment, or you successfully apply between now and July, payment will be made as follows. * Food; Payment will be made to eligible households with

children on or around 15 July 2025. * Energy; Payment will be made to eligible households on or around 15 December 2025. We will update further when we have more information about payment

for applications made after 15 July 2025. "If you received a payment under the previous Household Support Fund and we have been able to verify that you still meet the above criteria,

you will automatically get these payments and do not need to apply. "Payment will be made directly into your bank account using the information you previously provided. "You only

need to contact us if your bank account has changed since your previous award. "If we previously paid you by cheque, you will be sent a cheque again unless you provide us with your bank

details." Every local authority decides how to spend the money given to it by the DWP for the scheme, so has its own rules and gives out different amounts. Calderdale Council is giving

out payments of up to £85 in its scheme. Households with children or a disability will get £85, and single people or couples without children will get £40. Calderdale does not require

applicants to be on any specific benefits to qualify. Manchester City Council is making a payment of £130 between now and March 2026. It says: "Households receiving Council Tax Support

and a disability benefit, for example, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will get £130. Only one payment will be made per household." Some

councils stipulate that they will give the money to those on benefits, but you don’t necessarily need to be claiming any benefits to qualify for support according to the government's

own rules on Household Support Fund eligibility. The UK government’s website says: "Funding is aimed at anyone who’s vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be

getting benefits to get help from your local council. Article continues below "If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme.

"Councils decide how to run their schemes. There may be differences in eligibility criteria, if or how you need to apply, who money is given to. "For example, some councils share

out money through local charities and community groups and some limit household applications to one per year."