HUNDREDS of pensioners are to receive a £200 cost of living voucher to help with energy bills just in time for Christmas.

The financial boost comes via the latest round of the Household Support Fund which is worth a staggering £421million.

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The fund is designed to help hard-up households cover the cost of living, mostly through cash grants, supermarket and energy vouchers.

Each council across England has been allocated a share of the £421million pot and decides who to distribute money to.

Pensioner households in Reading who are no longer eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment could and who are in receipt of support from the Council Tax Reduction scheme and/or Housing Benefit are to be sent a voucher worth £200.

The Council already hold the details of around 1,100 residents who are eligible, with vouchers being automatically distributed from December.

The £200 voucher will be posted in December and recipients have until 10 February 2025 to cash the voucher.

But remember – after this date, vouchers cannot be cashed in.

A Household Support Fund grant of £1,130,648 was confirmed for Reading to provide cost of living support to households in the most need.

This includes those who may not be eligible for other support the government has recently made available.

Reading’s Council Leader Liz Terry said: “We know from the number of people approaching the Council for support that the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away.

“We also know the Council’s vouchers can mean the difference between putting food on the table or being able to pay for heating.

“This year the Council has chosen to additionally use some of the funding available to direct support to pensioners in Reading no longer eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance, but who are also in receipt of support through the Council Tax reduction scheme and / or Housing Benefit.

“We are grateful to the Government for acknowledging the importance of the Household Support Fund scheme to local councils and for extending it through the winter.”

What if I don’t live in Reading?

Each council across England has been allocated a share from the £421million pot.

But each local authority gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.

That means what you are entitled to will vary depending on where you live.

Not all councils have decided what they will do with their share of the £421million yet either.

The best thing to do is contact your local authority to see if any help is currently on offer.

You can find what council area you fall under by the using the Government’s council locator tool via gov.uk.

The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help those unsure figure out what they may be able to claim.

Other help on offer

If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might be able to get a grant from your energy firm to cover energy debt.

British Gas is handing out grants worth £1,700 to struggling households through its Individual and Families Fund.

The fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers living in England, Scotland or Wales.

You won’t be eligible if you received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.

And you must be seeking a grant to clear outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account.

Crucially, you also need to have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months.

If you don’y qualify for help with British Gas, a number of other energy firms offer help to customers struggling with energy bill debt.

This includes OVO, Boost, E.On, E.On Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita.

How has the Household Support Fund evolved?

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.

Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.

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It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.

In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.

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IT’S World Pasta Day and the perfect moment to make the most of this versatile kitchen cupboard staple.

Tuck in to some of your favourite meals, from lasagne to macaroni cheese.

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And here are some other ways to save cash and make the most of the dish . . . 

REUSE WATER: You’re missing a trick if you drain away the water you’ve cooked pasta in.

Instead, use it to make sauces, as the starch helps thicken your concoction.

You can also use to create tastier soups and broths.

And if you plan to make bread from scratch, the starch water will help give a chewier texture than using plain tap water.

LOVELY LEFTOVERS: If you cook too much pasta, don’t bin it — turn it into another dish.

If you have extra penne or rigatoni, knock up a tasty pasta bake.

Or a pasta salad is an easy lunch — add fresh veg for extra crunch and a drizzle of oil, plus seasoning.

Leftover spaghetti can be turned into an egg frittata.

Simply beat enough eggs to cover the leftovers and cook in an ovenproof saucepan for five minutes then in an oven for another five.

CHILD’S PLAY: Pasta can be fab to keep little ones amused.

Cooked spaghetti is perfect for sensory play. Divide into portions and coat in food colouring — just wash off all the dye before letting your child play with it.

Or give older ones dried pasta to create art from by glueing it on to paper and painting it.

FREE PASTA: To celebrate World Pasta Day, Bella Italia is giving away 2,000 pasta dishes when you order a main meal.

Sign up to the chain’s mailing list to get the deal, but offer ends today.

Pasta Evangelists are giving away 5,000 portions of fresh pasta between 3-4pm at 25 locations across the UK including London, Brighton, Cardiff, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Find your nearest at pastaevangelists.com/pages/wpd2024.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

Deal of day

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GET ahead with your Christmas shopping. This JoJo Maman Bebe gift set is down from £20 to £10 at Tesco with a Clubcard.

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YOU don’t need to wait until Christmas to tuck into this passion fruit martini panettone.

It’s beautifully buttery and infused with a vodka and passion fruit syrup. Now in Morrisons at £5.50.

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CARVE an impressive pumpkin with a little help from a stencil. Hobbycraft has a range of free ones to download and print plus lots of other Halloween ideas.

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

THE UK’s best takeaway restaurants have been revealed in a brand-new list by Uber Eats.

The delivery platform has reached its shortlist for the coveted Restaurant of the Year title, which includes three burger joints and Caribbean “shack”.

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The twelve finalists were whittled down from 130 entries across the UK and Ireland.

Judges included Great British Menu host Andi Oliver, street food connoisseur Kieran Monlouis and last year’s winner Josh Kleiner from Sandwich Sandwich. 

One of this year’s finalists is Soho Tavern, a Gastro pub in Birmingham.

In the cosy interior, punters can enjoy British-Indian classics in front of a sports match.

Dishes include like butter chicken for £11.25 and chilli chips for £5.50.

Another Indian eatery, Urban Tandoor in Bristol, also makes the list with its authentic curries.

Meanwhile, two fried chicken shops, in Liverpool and Nottingham, were selected – with the Nashville Cluck being popular for its buttermilk tenders.

Of the three best burgers, one is sold at Junglees in London – famed for its £10.99 smash burger.

While Locke Burger in Limerick has some of customers’ favourite house fries – and a luxurious bacon cheese burger for £10.45.

And lovers of Caribbean soul food will be pleased to see Natty’s Jerk Shack in Portsmouth in the mix – serving up a “modern twist on Jamaican cuisine”.

Dessert bars are not forgotten in the prestigious list.

Mackles ice-cream shop in Belfast sells opulent £6 sundaes – with favourites including the “Happy Hipp”, “Lotus Lover” and “Strawberry Shortcake”.

The winner of the sought-after title will be crowned in London on November 14.

They will bag a whopping £100,000 prize to invest into their business.

Matthew Price, General Manager for Uber Eats in UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, said: “A massive congratulations to all our regional finalists!

“The calibre of businesses taking part in our Restaurant of the Year Awards continues to grow. 

“I look forward to welcoming all the teams to the Awards in November, and hearing more about their journey as a small restaurant business.”

HOUSEHOLDS across the UK will get an extra hour in bed this weekend when the clocks change.

They will go back one hour at 2am on October 27, the last Sunday of the month, signalling the end of daylight saving time.

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The change means mornings will be brighter but sunset will come an hour earlier as darker nights draw in.

Most people own some kind of smart tech like a phone or laptop which should update automatically early on Sunday morning.

But there are some devices you may need to adjust manually like any analogue clocks or cookers.

To help you get ahead of the clocks changing, here are four things you should do now to ensure you’re not caught out.

Change your clocks

Any analogue clocks will need to be pushed forward an hour.

If you don’t, any alarms you’ve set will go off an hour later which could make you late for work or any social plans.

Some alarm clocks are radio-controlled and automatically adjust their time and date, so check whether yours is or not before Sunday.

James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, said: “There are some cases where you will need to change the clocks manually.

“In the kitchen, you’ll have to take a look at your microwave and oven to update the time.

“Each appliance is different, but ordinarily, if your microwave has a clock button you will need to press it down for a few seconds and set a new time once you hear a beep.

“Similarly with ovens, a clock feature with up and down buttons should be standard on newer versions.”

Central heating and hot water

With the nights getting colder, you’ll want to make sure all your central heating systems are operating on the right time.

Smart tech will update automatically, but make sure you adjust anything analogue.

Fail to do this, and any timings you have in place to turn your central heating on and off could be wrong meaning you use heating or hot water when you don’t need it.

James, from Utility Bidder, explained: “Smart meters and thermostats should automatically adjust from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time.

“But this may not be the case for older central heating systems, so be sure to check this so you aren’t wasting unnecessary energy from heating.”

When it comes to setting your heating at the right temperature, James said having it set at a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius should be enough to keep you warm.

“The World Health Organization recommends heating the home at around 18 degrees to maintain good health and a positive sleep routine.

“However, for the young, old or those who are unwell, 20 degrees Celsius is considered to be more appropriate.”

Getting the timing right for central heating systems means you’ll avoid paying to heat your home at the wrong time, which coudl add to bills.

Adjust smart lights and plugs

Anyone with automatic smart lights may need to manually adjust the time they’re set to come on.

If yours are connected to your phone then don’t worry as they should change automatically.

That said, you may still want to adjust the time they actually come on with the mornings turning lighter earlier.

The same rule applies to smart plugs that may be set up to turn lamps or other lights on at certain times of the day.

Having the lights come on when there’s still sunlight would be a waste of energy and money.

Review your finances

The clocks changing can be a great time to go over your finances ahead of the busy and expensive Christmas period.

Look over your bank statements or any credit card bills and work out where you could be saving money.

Use the time to make a budget for the festive period too, otherwise expenses can quickly grow out of control.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

MIKE Ashley is threatening a WWE-style smackdown at Boohoo by demanding the retailer makes him chief executive.

Just one day after dropping a separate £111million bid for Mulberry, the sportswear tycoon has deployed his favoured tactic of a public “poison pen” letter to attack the online fast-fashion giant’s management team.

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The missive, wired to the City yesterday morning, accused Boohoo of “abysmal” performance and “value destruction”.

Mr Ashley’s Frasers Group has steadily built up a 27 per cent stake in Boohoo — and now owns more than the founder and executive chairman Mahmud Kamani.

The letter from the former Newcastle FC owner claims the board had “lost its ability to manage Boohoo’s business and investments”.

Clive Black, analyst at Shore Capital, likened the explosive development of “the Ashley- Kamani bout” to “retail WWE”.

“Get out the popcorn,” he added.

Just last week Boohoo said it would address the 90 per cent collapse in its share price with a strategic review.

That could spell the break-up of its Pretty Little Thing, Karen Millen and Debenhams brands.

Meanwhile, chief executive John Lyttle said he would be stepping down after five years.

Mr Ashley said there was now a “leadership crisis” at Boohoo, which would only worsen its ongoing problems and delay a return to growth.

His letter stated that appointing Mr Ashley as a director and CEO was “the best solution” and it called for Mike Lennon, a partner at restructuring firm Kroll, to be installed on the board.

Mr Ashley’s public intervention comes after months of jostling behind the scenes.

The tycoon is thought to be particularly keen to gain control of Debenhams, which he tried to buy out of bankruptcy in 2020 — before Boohoo beat him to it.

Boohoo is likely to resist Mr Ashley’s demands and raise conflict of interest concerns, due to Frasers’ ownership of House Of Frasers.

In a terse statement, the retailer said yesterday: “The board is reviewing the content and validity of the requisitions with its advisers. A further announcement will be made in due course.”

Odey rejoins firm

HEDGE fund manager Crispin Odey has rejoined the eponymous firm he founded after leaving last year in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.

The tycoon made millions betting against the UK economy during Brexit — but his empire unravelled when the Financial Times reported complaints from several women of sexual harassment and assault.

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Mr Odey was reappointed as a director of Odey Asset Management in late September, according to Companies House filings.

On the same day, nine partners resigned.

Barclays boosted

PROFITS at Barclays have risen by nearly a fifth as fewer people fall behind on debts.

Barclays is putting £82million aside for bad loans, a big drop from £267million last year.

The bank said that was due to “low delinquencies in UK cards, high-quality mortgage lending and the improved macroeconomic portfolio”.

Pre-tax profit was £2.2billion between July and September, up from £1.9billion last year.

Net interest income, the gap between borrower and saver charges, was £1.7billion.

Cost cutting and deals also helped.

Magnum force at Unilever

UNILEVER has toasted its best growth in three and a half years as the Marmite to Magnum manufacturer’s turnaround takes shape.

Boss Hein Schumacher said his plan, which cuts 7,500 jobs, focuses on “doing fewer things, better”.

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Underlying sales grew 4.5 per cent in the fourth quarter.

Investors were cheered by the fact the consumer goods giant is finally selling more goods, rather than just relying on endless price hikes.

Mr Schumacher said plans were on track to next year spin-off the £15billion ice cream wing, which includes Magnums — as promoted by Iggy Pop — Cornettos and Ben & Jerry’s.

A stock market listing is the preferred option, and there will be a tussle between London and Amsterdam to be the venue for the float.

The ice cream unit grew sales 9.8 per cent in the last quarter, faster than any other division.

Stocks shake-up

A PROTEIN shake business that counts Coleen Rooney as an investor went public yesterday in a rare London stock market listing.

Applied Nutrition was valued at £350million after listing its shares at 140p, nearer the bottom of its price range.

It is one of the biggest stock listings of 2024 as the number of firms floating has fallen by 85 per cent to just nine this year, said Dealogic data.

The supplements firm’s founder Thomas Ryder said: “This positions us ideally for our next step of development.”

The budget blues

CONSUMER and business confidence is falling ahead of the Budget, according to a trio of closely followed studies.

The GFK consumer index has fallen to its lowest level since March, dragged down by worries about the wider economic situation.

GfK’s Neil Bellamy said: “Consumers are in a despondent mood.”

Meanwhile, a consumer sentiment survey by PWC recorded the biggest quarterly drop since Spring 2022.

And the CBI said manufacturers’ confidence had dropped due to a slowdown in new orders.

THE SUN’S top team of experts are still ­helping people with their Winter Fuel ­questions – but here we’ve put together a rundown of readers’ most frequent queries.

Q: IF I already receive Pension Credit, will I get the Winter Fuel Payment this year?

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A: Yes – if you are in receipt of Pension Credit, the Winter Fuel Payment is made automatically.

Most payments arrive in November or December.

You should receive a letter telling you how much you’ll get and which bank account it is being paid into.

If you don’t get a letter, or the money has not been paid in by January 29, contact the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160.

Q: I AM receiving Pension Credit. How do I get cheaper water?

A: If you have a water meter and claim certain benefits, including Pension Credit, you may be eligible for the WaterSure scheme.

It would mean your water bills are capped at a lower rate.

Speak to your water company to ask for help.

Q: HOW do I get a cheaper council tax rate? I am on Pension Credit.

A: You may be able to get a discount depending on what version of Pension Credit you receive.

If you get the guaranteed element, then you will be entitled to the maximum discount.

If you get the savings element, then the discount will be lower.

You need to speak to your council directly.

Q: I ALREADY receive Pension Credit. How do I get a free TV licence?

A: You can apply for a free TV licence if you are over 75 and receive Pension Credit.

See www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

Q: WHAT energy bill help does Pension Credit entitle me to?

A: You may be eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount if you get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

Your energy firm may also be able to offer you a grant to help pay for energy.

You should call them and ask for help.

Q: IF my income is over the Pension Credit threshold, could I still get the benefit?

A: Potentially, yes. You may still be able to get Pension Credit if you receive other benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or PIP.

You may also be eligible if you have high housing costs, such as service fees.

But the rules are very complex.

You should do a comprehensive benefits check through Age UK.

Q: DO other benefits count as income when it comes to qualifying for Pension Credit?

A: Some do. State ­Pension and Industrial Injuries benefit are taken into account (i.e. they reduce entitlement to Pension Credit).

Other benefits – disability benefits such as Attendance Allowance – are ­disregarded, but can mean in some cases that you can get more Pension Credit.

Q: I’M struggling with my energy bill but not eligible for Pension Credit. Can I get help?

A: Speak to your supplier as many have funds for customers who are struggling or on low incomes.

If you are not on a fixed tariff, it may be worth considering one.

Compare tariffs using uswitch.com or moneysavingexpert.com.

Q: CAN I claim Pension Credit individually if I live with a partner, when I’m eligible based on my own sole income?

A: For Pension Credit claims, if you are single then you claim as a single person.

If you have a partner with whom you share a home then one of you must claim and provide details of your partner.

The combined household income is then assessed.

Both of you need to be over State Pension age.

However, you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit instead.

Q: IF I apply for Pension Credit now, will I get the Winter Fuel Payment?

A: Pension Credit claims can be backdated, if you request it, by up to three months – so you have until ­December 21 to apply.

This is because you need to be claiming the benefit in the ­qualifying week of September 16-22, 2024.

Q: HOW can you check if you are ­eligible for Pension Credit?

A: To apply, phone the DWP on 0800 99 1234 or visit www.gov.uk/pensioncredit/how-to-claim.