£130 Cost of Living payments being issued before Christmas and they're 'automatic'

Thousands of people are set to get £130 straight into bank accounts before Christmas. The government through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has allocated a Household Support Fund to Halton Council to cover the period 1 October 2024 – 31 March 2025.

And it is intended to support vulnerable households particularly those including children and pensioners. Pensioners who are in receipt of council tax reduction or housing benefit will be provided with an award of £130. This payment will be awarded before Christmas 2024 and paid automatically direct into the pensioner’s bank account, or if we do not hold bank account details a voucher will be issued.

You do not have to apply for this award it will be issued automatically, the council stated. The council explained: "The council’s Discretionary Support Scheme has been allocated additional funding from the Household Support Fund to help individuals or families who need urgent help to pay for things such as essential food, toiletries or household items or essential fuel bills.

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"If you are in need of immediate support you can contact the council’s local welfare provision team called the Discretionary Support team. They can assist with immediate short-term needs due to a circumstance that presents a serious risk to the health or safety of the claimant or their family.

"Awards will normally be made for immediate essential day to day living expenses only, and will usually be made by way of a parcel delivered direct to the customer from the supplier." Free school meal vouchers of £12 per week will be provided to approximately 7,500 eligible pupils, too.

The council says these will be provided for the Autumn half term (1 week), the Christmas holidays (2 weeks), and the Spring half term (1 week). This process is already underway through the schools.