HUNDREDS of struggling households could receive direct payments worth hundreds of pounds into their bank accounts this winter.

The cash support is available through the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF).

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Earlier this month, the government extended the scheme for the sixth time, releasing £421 million to be distributed among councils. 

This funding will be allocated to vulnerable residents from now until March 2025.

Each local authority gets a different proportion of cash depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.

This means the voucher or grants on offer will vary by location, so you must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.

For example, struggling residents and families who live in Torridge can apply for free cash grants directly to bank accounts worth £100s.

These grants can be used to help households with their energy and water bills.

Others may be eligible for cash vouchers to be spent on food at their local supermarket.

Torridge Council says that the fund can also be used to help hard-up households pay for new white goods, including fridges, freezers, ovens and slow cookers.

It added that in exceptional circumstances, the fund could also help those with emergency housing costs.

During the previous round of the council’s Household Support Fund, the local authority assisted 247 individuals after receiving £192,000 from the central government.

In the scheme’s sixth round, Torridge District Council has been allocated £210,000 to distribute to residents most in need.

To be eligible for the latest round of funding, you must be experiencing some form of financial hardship.

To find out more and apply, visit bpag-encompass.org.uk/projects/torridge-household-fund/.

As part of the application, you’ll need to include your name, email address and National Insurance number.

You’ll also be expected to explain what type of support you require and a detailed description of your financial situation.

What if I don’t live in Torridge?

What you can get depends on where you live and what support is available.

Each local council receives a portion of the £421million fund, which is then distributed to residents based on need.

Some councils may provide direct cash payments, while others issue vouchers to help cover essentials like energy or food.

How the money is distributed will vary, so it’s important to check with your local authority.

For example, Birmingham City Council has announced £200 payments to help residents with winter costs.

Other councils, like Coventry, have offered community supermarket schemes, where households can pay £5 a week and get a basket of food worth up to £25.

However, there are changes to the scheme this time around.

Some councils have introduced monthly caps on funding, meaning once the allocated amount for the month is spent, applications are paused until the following month.

This is to ensure that everyone has a chance to receive support, but it does mean you should apply as soon as possible.

Who’s generally eligible for the scheme?

The Household Support Fund is designed to help households in financial difficulty, particularly those on low incomes or those who don’t qualify for other forms of government assistance.

If you’re struggling to make ends meet due to rising living costs, you could be eligible for support.

The criteria you need to meet will vary depending on where you live.

You’ll likely need to prove your financial hardship when applying.

This can include showing evidence of your income, benefits or other forms of support you’re currently receiving.

For example, if you’re receiving Universal Credit or a council tax reduction, you could qualify.

But even if you’re not on benefits, you may still be able to get help if you can demonstrate financial hardship.

Do I need to apply?

Applications for the Household Support Fund are handled by your local council, and the process can vary depending on where you live.

Most councils offer online application forms, but if you need help completing an application, you can call your council’s customer service centre for assistance.

To apply, you’ll need to provide details such as your National Insurance number and may need to submit bank statements or benefit evidence.

If you’re applying for a family member or someone else, there’s also an option to upload supporting documents like benefit letters or pay slips to prove eligibility.

Some councils, such as Haringey, are issuing automatic payments to eligible residents, while others require residents to apply directly.

If you’re unsure of the process in your area, it’s best to check your local council’s website.

Join Kimberley Dondo and Jordan Sriharan, Fund Manager at Canada Life Asset Management, as they discuss the current market landscape and the impact of global trends on the UK.

In this episode, Jordan shares his revised outlook, outlines strategies for mitigating risk, and identifies potential opportunities for UK investors.

Tune in for valuable insights and actionable takeaways to help you navigate the turbulent waters and guide your clients through these challenging times.

HEAT pumps are an environmentally friendly way to keep your home warm and can reduce your heating bills significantly

And best of all, you might be able to get one installed for free.

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Air source heat pumps take in cold air, raise its temperature and use this to heat a home, potentially saving billpayers £380 a year on their energy costs.

While heat pumps use electricity to heat the cold air, which normally comes from outside, they produce far more energy than they use and are around four times more efficient than a traditional gas or oil boiler.

And they last around five years longer than your standard gas boiler.

Ground source heat pumps are also available, which work in a similar way using the natural heat from the ground.

Exactly how much a heat pump could save you, depends on the heating system you’re upgrading from.

The Energy Saving Trust has estimated that replacing a G-rated heating system with a high performing heat pump in a semi-detached house could result in savings of £380 a year,

Even replacing a G-rated system with a low performing heat pump would save you around £200 a year.

Replacing an average heating system with a high performing heat pump in a semi-detached house could save you £210 a year.

An air source heat pump costs significantly more than a gas boiler on average, according to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).

But costs are coming down all the time and energy companies are offering some heat pumps for £500, with a government grant.

If you’re on a low income, you might even be able to get all costs covered as you upgrade.

These are the schemes available to get a free or discounted heat pump installed in your home:

Energy Company Obligation

The Energy Company Obligation is a government scheme that helps hard-up households install home upgrades that will tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions.

It requires medium and large energy suppliers to help low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes.

Energy suppliers can choose how they fulfil their obligations but many offer to cover the cost of installing heat pumps.

Some will even also install solar panels at homes to power the pumps, leading to further reductions to energy bills.

You might qualify for the help if you live in private housing and get one of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Pension Savings Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Child Benefit
• Housing Benefit

If you own your home and are seeking help, it must have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G.

Whereas if you rent from a private landlord, you can access support if your house has an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G.

You can check the energy rating of your home on the government website.

There is no cap on the funding that households can get, which means you may be able to get a grant to cover the total cost of installing a heat pump at your home.

The scheme also offers help with covering the cost of other energy efficient measures, like insulation.

To apply for the scheme you can contact your local authority or your energy supplier.

Different suppliers will offer funding for different projects, so you need to check with your provider.

The following suppliers all take part in the scheme:

• British Gas
• E (Gas & Electricity)
• E.ON
• Ecotricity
• EDF
• Octopus Energy
• Outfox the Market
• OVO
• Scottish Power
• So Energy
• Utility Warehouse
• Utilita

Boiler upgrade scheme

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers households grants up to £7,500 to install heat pumps in their homes.

You can apply for the grant, which aims to cut carbon emissions, whatever your financial situation.

To get the help you must:

• live in England or Wales
• own the property you’re applying for
• be using the grant money to replace a fossil fuel heating system (such as oil, gas, electric or liquefied petroleum gas)
• have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

An MCS certified installer will be able to give you a quote for installation and tell you if you are eligible for one of the grants.

You can find a list of MCS-certified installers by going on the msccertified.com website.

Once you’ve agreed a quote with the installer, they will normally apply for the grant on your behalf.

The value of the grant is then be deducted off the cost of installation.

So if the work costs £12,500, you would pay £5,000.

Other savings

Many energy firms also have special tariffs and offers for those installing heat pumps in their homes.

EDF offers customers with heat pumps access to a special tariff to enhance their savings.

It is also pledging to give free electricity throughout December 2025 to those that install the technology.

Octopus also has a tariff specially designed for heat pump users.

The provider said the Cosy Octopus tariff could save households £264 a year, compared to using a gas boiler.

Installing a heat pump through British Gas would make you eligible for its heat pump energy offer, which caps the price of energy used by the device at 14p per kWh for 12 months, potentially saving customers £456.

Before you look to have a pump installed it’s worth checking what your provider will offer and whether you need to install through them to claim.

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

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FURIOUS neighbours say they are losing sleep over their local pub’s plans to transform into the ‘Love Island villa’.

Owners of The Old Volunteer in Caythorpe, Nottinghamshire, have applied for permission to make huge changes to the beer garden.

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If granted, the popular watering hole will have a brand new kitchenette, toilet block, timber bar, two footbridges and fencing added outside.

The pub’s planning agents said the £200,000 investment would bring in £1million every year and would turn it into a “vibrant community facility”.

Pub owner and tech firm CEO Sean Reddington, called the venue his “passion project”, after living in the village for the last 20 years.

He built an incredible play area so parents can have a little peace and quiet, which has a miniature Co Op, hairdressers and train station.

It even has a mini version of the pub, called “The Young Volunteer.”

The pub made local news after it donated just over £45,000 to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

The eye-watering sum was raised in just one week and the staff even donated their personal tips.

But those living next door to the pub say that it’s already destroying their peace and quiet, and the plans will only amplify that.

One local, who formally objected to the planning application said the expansion plan was “more in tune with the set of Love Island” than a country pub.

The objector added: “I am a resident of Lowdham and am unfortunate enough to live within hearing of the pub.

“The situation at present is that not so near neighbours are unable to sit in their gardens in good weather enjoying the quiet of the countryside nor get their children to sleep because of the noise.” 

According to the pub’s planners, the changes would see a boost to employment as the pub would need three full-time chefs and a further 10-20 part time staff.

The environmental health officer for Newark and Sherwood District Council said they had no objection to the change of use, but confirmed there had been complaints about loud music.

If the plans go ahead, there would need to be a curfew on the outdoor area as well as an ‘acoustic barrier’ in the form of a fence specially created to reduce noise.

New owners took over the pub in 2022, transforming the boozer into a top-notch establishment.

The new chefs, who’d previously worked at other impressive local restaurants, introduced a high-end gastro-fusion menu.

The Sun has approached The Old Volunteer for comment.

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SPOTTING a specific animal on a 50p could help you complete a rare collection that could be worth up to £160.

The Royal Mint has launched a new steppe mammoth coin as part of its latest Tale of the Earth Collection, which features rare and extinct animals.

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In the past, the designs have included dinosaurs but the latest range is centred around the Ice Age, which took place over 11,000 years ago.

Experts at Change Checker said: “The Tales of the Earth series as a whole is dedicated to celebrating ancient life on our planet, offering collectors a glimpse into a world that existed thousands of years ago, and the Ice Age Giants 50ps take us all the way back to the Ice Age.”

The 50p coin was designed by paleo-artist Robert Nicholls in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.

The reverse of the coin features a design of the famous animal, which was wiped out centuries ago due to hunting and rising temperatures.

It is currently available to buy from the Royal Mint website, with prices starting at £12.

These coins are uncirculated, meaning they are for collectors and you would not receive one as change in a shop.

The UK manufacturer has plans to release two more coins for the collection, which feature a 50p woolly rhino and also a giant dear.

These are not available to buy yet but you can pre-order them on the Change Checker website.

In the past, similar collections like this have been highly sought after by collectors.

The Royal Mint 2021 dinosaur collection, featuring all three coins, was sold for £160 on eBay earlier this month.

But it is worth remembering that coins are only worth what buyers are willing to pay for them.

For example, an identical set was sold for £25 on October 21.

The single steppe mammoth coin sold for £9.99 on eBay this week.

As the new Ice Age collection has not yet been fully launched, so it’s not quite clear just how much it will be worth.

But it’s not just animal collections that spark interest from collectors.

Coins featuring characters from children’s books or television can also be a hit.

For example, the Royal Mint’s 2018 edition of The Snowman coin, which features the iconic image of him flying in the sky, sold for £10.50 this Ocotber.

The 2019 edition, depicting the lovable cartoon as he comes to life, sold for £10.99 this month also.

You may have seen recently The Royal Mint released a 50p coin featuring the Gruffalo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its books.

The Sun recently rounded up a full list of quirky rare coins that could be worth £356, which you can check out here.

How to spot rare coins and banknotes

Rare coins and notes hiding down the back of your sofa could sell for hundreds of pounds.

If you are lucky enough to find a rare £10 note you might be able to sell it for multiple times its face value.

You can spot rare notes by keeping an eye out for the serial numbers.

These numbers can be found on the side with the Monarch’s face, just under the value £10 in the corner of the note.

Also if you have a serial number on your note that is quite quirky you could cash in thousands.

For example, one seller bagged £3,600 after spotting a specific serial number relating to the year Jane Austen was born on one of their notes.

You can check if your notes are worth anything on eBay, just tick “completed and sold items” and filter by the highest value.

It will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay for some notes.

But do bear in mind that yours is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.

This is also the case for coins, you can determine how rare your coin is by looking a the latest scarcity index.

The next step is to take a look at what has been recently sold on eBay.

Experts from Change Checker recommend looking at “sold listings” to be sure that the coin has sold for the specified amount rather than just been listed.

M&S shoppers are obsessed with a £15 box of chocolates which comes with a unique festive surprise.

The fancy supermarket has brought out a gift box with a magical miniature forest inside – and when you shake it, it snows.

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The 200g Magical Snowing Forest which has a charming snow-globe effect has sent M&S fans wild on social media.

One user took to the Christmas Money Saver Facebook group to share a photo of their find with the group.

“The world’s first snowing chocolate box” contains milk and blonde truffles in a secret drawer compartment.

The post was met with over 2,000 likes and 337 comments.

One said: “Omg I so want one of these”.

Another wrote: “Just bought it, it’s really beautiful and would be a fabulous gift to get.”

While a third added: “I got one for my husband and one for a friend, I love it, I know my granddaughter would love it too.”

You can buy the snow box in-store in M&S from the food hall.

To find your nearest M&S store, you can go to its website and use the store finder tool.

But make sure you’re quick as items like these tend to sell out fast.

Or if you’d rather have it delivered to your house, you can order it online through Ocado.

Bear in mind this will be a little pricier as delivery costs extra.

You should also have a shop around before you buy the box to see if there are any similar products for cheaper elsewhere.

The M&S Magical Forest was the only snow-globe chocolate box we would find, but the shop does also sell a Santa chocolate sleigh for just £5.

You can also buy a 140g box of festive chocolate shortbread stars for £2.10 in Tesco.

Or Cadbury‘s 110g snow-ball themed chocolate bar is available to buy in most supermarkets.

In Sainsbury’s, for example, it is £1.65 for a bar of snowball chocolate, or £4.50 for a 270g bag of snow balls.

Aldi is also selling a 125g box of Dairyfine mini chocolate snowmen for £3.29.

Supermarkets are always changing their prices, so it’s best to check how much your product is online before visiting the store.

Websites like Trolley are useful for comparing prices between major supermarkets and making sure you bag the best deal.

And when you’re in store, it always helps to keep an eye out for yellow stickers, as you never know what might unexpectedly be reduced.

What else is M&S selling this Christmas?

M&S festive food is always the centre of excitement at Christmas time, with shoppers splashing that little bit extra to mark the occasion.

The Sun tried all 450 new items in the M&S huge Christmas range, including a turkey feast lasagne and hot honey brie.

We rated the Xmas dinner dip the top of our list this year – it features bacon bits, turkey, cranberry and even stuffing and is delicious to eat with bread or crisps.

Booze lovers will also be pleased to see the original snow globe gin liqueur back on shelves this year after it was slashed from last year’s range.

In previous years M&S have had to install an alcohol buying limit because of the massive demand.

Shoppers can also buy 75cl bottles of cocktail drinks on sale at the moment for just £5.50, which come in flavours Christmas Cosmo, Christmas Colada and Christmas on the Beach.

The new white mulled wine is also £6 and offers another twist on a winter favourite, with pear, vanilla and mulled spice flavours.

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

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