THOUSANDS on state pension could be eligible for a cost of living payment worth up to £200.

Pensioners missing out on the Winter Fuel Payment this year are set to receive a cash boost to help cover energy costs.

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Residents in Middlesbrough who are aged 80 and over, receive Council Tax Reduction, and are not eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment may be entitled to receive £200.

Those aged between 66 and 79 who meet the same criteria could also be eligible for a cash payment of £150.

An estimated 1,500 households are expected to benefit from one of the two payments.

Pensioners receiving Attendance Allowance, who are not on other benefits and have incomes less than £20,000 for a single person or £26,000 for a couple, can also apply for a £100 payment to help with the cost of living.

Middlesbrough Council also announced that they would issue automatic payments of £60 per child for families eligible for free school meals.

However, it will only be available if the council’s £1.65million scheme is approved.

Cllr Nicky Walker, Executive member for Finance, said: “When this phase of the Household Support Fund was announced, I made it clear where I thought we should prioritise our efforts to help pensioners of Middlesbrough on low incomes who will just miss out on getting the Winter Fuel Payment this year.

“The proposal strikes a balance between universal payments for families in receipt of certain benefits and targeting help at other groups, including pensioners.

“Given the national changes around the Winter Fuel Payment, it’s pleasing we’re able to propose something locally to support those pensioners this winter who may have worked hard all their lives but just miss out due to, for example, having a small works pension.”

Middlesborough Council have distributed a total of £1.5million Household Support Payments since April.

The proposed scheme will allow families who are not eligible for free school meals but are receiving Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit, or Housing Benefit to receive £60 per child.

Middlesborough residents claiming Council Tax Reduction benefits will also be able to apply based on their income.

A single person will be entitled to £35, couples will receive £45, and households with children will get £60 per child under the proposed scheme.

Other details of the scheme include:

• Pensioners not receiving Council Tax Reduction or other benefits can apply for £100 per household if income is below £20,000 for single people and £26,000 for a couple
• Residents receiving Attendance Allowance who aren’t entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment or other aspects of the Household Support Funding can apply for £100 per household.

It comes after millions of households eligible for this year’s £300 winter fuel payment will receive another cash bonus from the DWP this winter.

And thousands of households not claiming pension credit will still get a winter fuel payment due to a little-known loophole.

The government recently announced that thousands of pensioners will get a £200 one-off payment for energy bills after the winter fuel allowance cut.

It is part of the latest phase of its Household Support Fund, which offers vouchers to struggling Brits.

The funding is available across England, but the amount up for grabs depends on your local council.

More than 32,000 eligible households in Nottinghamshire will get the help to cover food and energy costs in the run-up to Christmas.

They include families with children eligible for Free School Meals and people receiving Pension Credit.

Social workers have identified other households which need financial support.

The council will contact eligible households next month, so residents do not need to take any action.

Those eligible can expect to get a one-off payment of around £100 per household.

The help comes via the latest round of the Household Support Fund which is worth £421million.

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.

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’t 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.

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.

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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.

BARGAIN retailer Aldi is selling giant inflatable Santa and Snowman figures perfect for Christmas at cheap prices.

The holiday season is just around the corner and these life-size inflatables will be the perfect addition to your home decorations.

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Aldi is selling six-foot inflatable Santa and Snowman figures for just £19.99.

The balloons are filled with lights that glow up when connected to power.

They are a must-have item in case you are planning to create your own little Winter Wonderland at your place.

For those gearing up for the Christmas season already, The Sun revealed Aldi’s quirky new Christmas range including fudge-flavoured cheese and a festive twist on a shopper’s favourite.

Everything from classic turkey, to mince pies, party picky bits and kids’ toys will soon be available to customers to make their Christmas celebrations even better.

Some of the standout items include Specially Selected Wagyu Tomahawk steak, which costs £24.99 per kilo and is on sale from December 19.

As well as the traditional 1.8kilo Specially Selected Slow Cooked Turkey Crown landing in stores on the same date.

Aldi is also selling a range of Bluey toys including a plush toy for £12.99 which is hitting shelves on November 28.

But the main event this year is Cuthbert, with a new Christmas-themed cake based on the iconic character set to go on sale.

It is the first time the popular caterpillar character has been featured on the Christmas range.

We have asked Aldi how much the cake will cost and when it will go on sale and will update this story when we’ve heard back.

Christmas is a time of indulgence and magic – and this year’s Aldi certainty hasn’t held back.

Aldi is not the first retailer to launch a Christmas showcase this year – our reporters have already been to Sainsbury’s, M&S’ and Tesco’s.

Meanwhile, M&S shoppers are rushing to buy £15 Christmas chocolate boxes with a “magical” surprise feature.

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

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.

A TOWER sketch on your 50p could mean it’s worth 300 times it’s normal value.

The Kew Gardens 50p features a tall tower with leaves wrapped around and was circulated in 2009.

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One of the ultra-rare coins has sold on eBay for an unbelievable £150.

The coin launched a bidding war, with 10 attempts made to nab the incredible design.

And what’s more, there was no cost for delivery.

The coin sold for 300 times its value on 26 October.

When the Kew Gardens 50p was first issued in 2009, collectors didn’t initially realise just how rare it would be, and many people who found one in their change parted with it and later kicked themselves.

A Changechecker spokesperson said: “Now, 15 years later, the Kew Gardens coin regularly sells for between £150 to £250 on the secondary market.

“In terms of identifying rare coins, we would urge collectors to check mintage figures as well as keep up to date with our Scarcity Index which is updated quarterly.”

Other rare 50ps have also been gaining traction online recently, including a Blue Peter 50p which sold for £216.

CHECK IF YOU HAVE A RARE COIN

Rare coins and valuable notes can be worth tens of thousands of times their face value.

But sometimes it’s just tiny differences which make them so lucrative.

The most valuable coins tend to be ones with low mintage numbers or an error.

Those qualities typically make them valuable to collectors.

Your next step would be to check if your coin is still available to purchase in superior Brilliant Uncirculated quality from an official Royal Mint distributor, according to Change Checker.

Certified Brilliant Uncirculated coins have been specially struck to a superior unblemished quality which set them apart from the coins you may find in pockets.

SELLING YOUR RARE COINS

There are many different factors to consider when trying to value a coin, including its condition and mintage, so it’s important to do your homework first.

If you’ve got a coin that you would like to sell at auction, you can contact The Royal Mint’s Collectors Service.

It has a team of experts who can help you to authenticate and value your coin.

You’ll need to enquire via email, and a member of the valuation team will contact get back to you.

Take a picture of your coin and attach this to the email – you can find the details on The Royal Mint’s website.

Be aware that you will be charged for this service though – the cost will vary depending on the size of your collection.

If you are looking to buy a coin online through a marketplace such as eBay, it’s important to know exactly what you are purchasing.

This is because anyone can list a coin on eBay and charge whatever amount they wish.

You should also be wary of fakes online – and keep in mind that on eBay a buyer could pull out, which means the coin won’t have sold for the price it says it has.

Meanwhile, we have put together a guide on the rarest and most valuable coins.

We also tell you what you should do if you find a lucky penny in your pocket.

THERE are lots of products that can help women cope with the effects of the menopause.

But there is no need to spend a fortune on feeling better.

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As the end of Menopause Awareness Month approaches, give one of these deals a go.

THREE-DOM: Get three vitamins, supplements and other products for the price of two at Holland & Barrett.

The deal includes Health & Her menopause multi nutrient supplement, £20.99 for 60, and a pack of ten cooling forehead patches, £9.99.

SKIN SAVINGS: You may find you need to tweak your skincare routine as your menopause kicks in.

Avoid wasting money by trying some samples before you buy.

If you are already a fan of Boots No7 Menopause Skincare range, you can currently get up to 20 per cent off, or buy three for the price of two.

NEW CHAPTERS: Books can be a brilliant source of help and advice about the menopause.

The best-seller, Meno-pausing, by Davina McCall with Dr Naomi Potter, is down from £22 to £11 at The Works.

Don’t forget your local library.

You can borrow a pile of books covering everything from mood changes to nutrition.

TESTING TIMES: If you are not sure whether you are approaching the menopause, a hormone testing kit may help.

You can get 20 per cent off menopause test kids from newfoundland.io, which tests the amount of follicle stimulating hormone in your urine.

The menopause test is down from £9.98 to £7.99, plus £2.99 postage.

SHOP WISELY: Not everything labelled “menopause” is worth buying.

Money saving expert Sarah-Jane Outten, of myvouchercodes.co.uk, warns shoppers not to be sucked in by menopause skincare and clothing.

She says: “When it comes to skincare, needs are different depending on the person.

“Labelling a product ‘menopausal’ suggests it’s one size fits all. That’s not the case.”

She says that any clothing with wicking or 100 per cent cotton will help with sweating or hot flushes.

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

Deal of the day

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TRANSFORM a corner of your room with the Bailey Sherpa Accent Chair from Dunelm, down from £299 to £149.50.

SAVE: £149.50

Cheap treat

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GET four Halloween Doughnuts from Sainsbury’s for £1.40, or 85p with a Nectar card.

SAVE: 55p

What’s new?

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GET some Halloween items for half price at Matalan, including a girls’ Day Of The Dead costume for £8.50 instead of £17.

Top swap

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SHARE a bag of Properchips salt and vinegar lentil chips, 85g, £2, from Sainsbury’s or tuck into a bag of Snaktastic Lentil Chips sharing pack from Lidl, also 85g, £1.15.

SAVE: 85p

Shop & save

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WHETHER you are celebrating Diwali on Thursday or not, use a Morrisons More card to get a 10kg bag of Trophy Basmati Rice for £13 instead of £20.

SAVE: £7

Hot right now

GEARING up for a crafty Christmas? Use the code HC20 to get 20 per cent off when you spend £40 or more at Hobbycraft, online or in-store.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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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!

A LOTTERY winner has vowed to give his staff a bonus after scooping £100,000.

Kind-hearted Chris Dell broke down in tears as he pledged to handover £1,000 to each of his 10 employees from his People’s Postcode Lottery winnings.

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The self-storage firm owner, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, said: “I’m going to treat the staff at work, especially with that amount because we’re a close team and it would be nice to put a smile on their faces.

“We’ve got 10 people in the team and £10,000 of it will go to them.

“They’ll get £1,000 each. People might say, ‘Why would you do that?’ It’s because we are a team.

“The team that we have helps grow the business and I’d like to think if you look after the company, the company will look after you.”

Chris celebrated his windfall with 17 neighbours in Chesterfield after S41 8QT bagged the weekly Millionaire Street prize.

Every ticket is worth £50,000 but Chris and neighbour Tracey Moulton doubled their prizes with two tickets.

Stunned Chris said: “I don’t think I’m greedy – if I get lucky then I always think you should make someone else smile.

“Spread that love, spread that happiness. Let’s not be greedy and share it.

“It’s nice to know that local charities will be helped as well. With that amount that can mean such a lot to a lot of charities.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. I haven’t really slept since I got told I had won something.

“I’ll take a few friends out for a nice meal – an Indian or a steak and a bottle of champagne. I might have a headache tomorrow.”

Chris also plans to treat himself to a holiday “somewhere nice and warm”.

“Most probably Benidorm,” he said. “My best friend lives in France and he’ll be coming too.”

Meanwhile, Tracy explained she joined Postcode Lottery after husband Mark’s ex-wife won £25,000 seven years ago in nearby Hollingwood, Derbyshire.

And she signed up for a second ticket two years ago when the mother-in-law of one of Mark’s daughters doubled her £30,000 prize to £60,000 with two tickets in Old Whittington, less than three miles away.

Now the communications support worker, who works with the deaf, has completed the family golden triangle with her £100,000 windfall.

Excited Tracy said: “Oh my God… We can’t even win on a tombola.”

Tracy and Mark share seven children and two grandchildren.

The couple shared a kiss after being left gobsmacked when they pulled their cheque from their golden envelope.

Tracy said: “Our lives have just changed totally in five minutes because we’ve won.

“I kept saying to everyone that I was saving myself for a big win. This is once-in-a-lifetime.”

How to play the People’s Postcode Lottery?

For just £12 a month, players can sign up through the official website to have a chance of winning millions of pounds.

Once signed up, players are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of each month.

Tickets play for the Daily Prize, worth £1000 and revealed every single day.

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Tickets could also win a jackpot of £30,000 for Saturday and Sunday’s Street Prize draws.

People’s Postcode Lottery also offers a £3million Postcode Millions draw each month – where your ticket plays for a share of the cash prize fund.

Winners are notified by email, text, post, or phone call, depending on the prize they win.

Jackpot winners are visited by the lottery team in person.

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Brits could reduce essential bills by as much as half using an easy Martin Lewis “three-week deadline” trick.

Millions could save hundreds every year with a quick web search.

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Car insurance premiums are at record levels amid the spiralling cost of living crisis.

Some motorists have reported massive year-on-year hikes in their bills, with some seeing costs bumped up two or three-fold.

And things could get even worse based on rumoured changes to insurance premium tax in the upcoming Budget.

Fortunately, Martin Lewis has shared a simple hack you can use to beat the price spikes and keep bills manageable.

Each year, thousands of drivers allow their insurance policies to renew automatically, rolling over to the next year with their current provider.

But Martin revealed that this is actually the worst way to handle a renewal and often leads to higher bills.

Instead, he urged car owners to manually renew – and explained exactly when to do so.

Speaking on his ITV show, the personal finance whizz said: “If you are near your renewal, getting quotes three weeks before may half the cost.

“We ran 18 million quotes, it starts to drop at around 30 days, you get into the sweet spot around three to four weeks before.

“It bottoms out on average at day 23, and then the prices just start to rise and rise and rise.

“Everyone needs to get in their diary that 23 days before renewal because that’s the sweet spot.”

This is largely due to the way that insurers assess risk in clients.

Drivers who take the time to renew and research the best quotes are generally seen as more organised and less risky than those who auto-renew, Martin explained.

And it seems to really work as fans flooded the MSE boss with success stories.

One said the trick had brought their quote down from £1,500 to £650.

And a second claimed that he had managed to take the sting out of an £800 increase to his premium by reclaiming £618.

Just bear in mind that Martin recommended shopping around as much as possible when you come to renew to find the best deal – even if it means changing insurer.

You can use the Compare+ tool on the MSE website to get an aggregate of the most attractive offers from major comparison sites.