ROYAL Mail is increasing the price of stamps again in just a few days.

The price of first-class stamps will rise by 30p to £1.65, the second rise in a year, the delivery giant has confirmed.

1

Royal Mail said the price increase will come into force from October 7.

It comes after first class stamp prices increased by 10p to £1.35 in April and by 10p to 85p for second class.

The company has frozen the cost of second class stamps at 85p until 2029 in a bid to keep the sending of letters affordable.

Royal Mail says it has tried to keep price increases as low as possible in the face of declining letter volumes, and inflationary pressures.

When announcing the price rise earlier this month, it also cited the costs associated with maintaining the so-called Universal Service Obligation (USO) under which deliveries have to be made six days a week.

Postal regulator Ofcom declared in early September that Royal Mail could be allowed to axe Saturday deliveries for second class letters as part of an overhaul of the service.

Ofcom, which has been consulting on the future of the universal postal service since January, said it should keep first class deliveries to six days a week.

Under the plans being considered, second class deliveries would not be made on Saturdays and would only be on alternate weekdays, but delivery times would remain unchanged at up to three working days.

Ofcom said no formal decision had been made and it continues to review the changes, with aims to publish a consultation in early 2025 and make a decision in the summer of next year.

Royal Mail said letter volumes have fallen from 20billion in 2004/5 to around 6.7billion a year in 2023/4, so the average household now receives four letters a week, compared to 14 a decade ago.

The number of addresses Royal Mail must deliver to has risen by 4million in the same period meaning the cost of each delivery continues to rise.

Royal Mail said the universal service needs urgent reform, adding: “The minimum requirements of the universal service haven’t changed for over 20 years despite major changes to how people communicate.

“We have no certainty on regulatory reform and the rate of letter decline and ongoing losses means that Royal Mail has had to take the necessary steps within its power to address the very real and urgent financial sustainability challenge the universal service faces right now.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s chief commercial officer, said it always considers price increases “very carefully”.

However, he said, as letter volumes have declined by two-thirds since their peak, the cost of delivering each letter has inevitably increased.

He added: “A complex and extensive network is needed to get every letter and parcel across the country for a single price – travelling on trucks, planes, ferries and in some cases drones before it reaches its final destination on foot. We are proud to deliver the universal service, but the financial cost is significant.

“The universal service must adapt to reflect changing customer preferences and increasing costs so that we can protect the one-price-goes anywhere service, now and in the future.”

Other Royal Mail changes

Royal Mail has urged the Government and Ofcom to review its obligations, arguing that it is no longer workable or cost-effective, given the decline in addressed letter post.

In its submission to Ofcom in April, it proposed ditching Saturday deliveries for second class post and cutting the service to every other weekday.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “If we decide to propose changes to the universal service next year, we want to make sure we achieve the best outcome for consumers.

“So we’re now looking at whether we can get the universal service back on an even keel in a way that meets people’s needs.

“But this won’t be a free pass for Royal Mail – under any scenario, it must invest in its network, become more efficient and improve its service levels.”

Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS), which agreed to a £3.57billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in May, said “change cannot come soon enough” to the UK’s postal service.

Royal Mail also ousted old-style stamps and replaced them with barcoded ones last July.

The business said the move would make letters more secure.

Anyone who still has these old-style stamps and uses them may have to pay a surcharge.

How prices have changed

Royal Mail previously raised the price of first class stamps from £1.10 to £1.25 last October, before boosting them again in April.

Right now, a first class stamp costs £1.35, which covers the delivery of letters up to 100g.

Historically, the cost of stamps has seen a steady increase over the years, reflecting inflation and operational costs. For example, in 2000, a First Class stamp was priced at 41p.

A second class stamp is priced at 85p and also covers letters up to 100g.

The stamps can be bought individually if you buy it at a Post Office counter.

Otherwise, you can typically buy them in sets of multiple stamps.

The first class service typically delivers the next working day, including Saturdays, while the second class service usually delivers within 2-3 working days, also including Saturdays.

For larger letters, the cost of a first class stamp is £2.20 for items up to 100g, and a second class stamp for the same weight is £1.55.

Parcel delivery prices vary based on size and weight, starting from £3.69 for small parcels.

Additional services include the “signed for” option, which requires a signature upon delivery and adds an extra level of security.

The cost for first class signed for is £3.05, and for second class Signed for, it is £2.55.

The “special delivery” service guarantees next-day delivery by 1pm with compensation cover, with prices starting from £7.95.

Royal Mail periodically reviews and adjusts stamp prices, so it is advisable to check the latest rates on their official website or at your local post office.

How to beat the hike

Money guru Martin Lewis advised Brits to buy stamps in bulk before the new prices kick in to save a decent chunk of change for all their posting needs.

He said: “For years, every time stamps go up in price I’ve suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn’t have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it’s still valid after the hike.

“So you may as well stock up now, even if it’s just for Christmas cards for the next few Christmases.”

Do bear in mind though, if you stock up on stamps now, be careful to avoid fakes, he said.

Buy from reputable high street outlets and, where possible, hang on to your receipt.

Stamps are also available directly from the Royal Mail online shop, but you have to spend £50 to get free delivery.

Back in April, Royal Mail paused the £5 penalty for anyone who receives a letter with a fake stamp on it while it takes fresh action against counterfeits.

However, you could still be charged if you use a fake stamp when sending something.

To check whether a stamp is genuine, you can use Royal Mail’s new “fake stamp scanner” on the app.

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

A MAJOR TV streaming platform has begun charging users £60 extra a year to share their accounts.

Disney+ has followed in the footsteps of streaming giant Netflix and begun charging for password sharing.

1

If you share your Disney+ account with friends or family who don’t live with you, you’ll now need to pay up to £4.99 a month.

Over a year that adds up to a whopping £60 extra – on top of the fee you already pay for an account.

The platform will be able to check where you’re accessing it from, automatically setting up a “household” for the account based on the devices you use and where your primary residence is.

If you log in while you’re away from home, you’ll need to verify your account using a one-time passcode sent to your email.

If you do want to share the account with someone else you’ll need to buy a separate “extra member” profile.

On top of your base price, it’ll cost £3.99 a month if you have a “standard with ads” plan and £4.99 a month if you’ve got a standard or premium plan.

It’s important to note that you won’t be charged automatically if you’re sharing your account right now.

You’ll need to buy the extra profile proactively, although it’s not yet clear if or how Disney+ will enforce the new policy.

For example, it may start locking you out if you’re not the account holder.

Sun Money has contacted Disney+ and will update this story when we hear back.

What we do know is that you can only buy one extra member add-on per account.

The extra member will only be able to stream on one device at a time, but will otherwise be able to watch the same content as the main account holder.

If you want to buy the add-on you’ll need to head to your account and set it up in the billing section.

It comes after Netflix banned viewers who don’t live under the same roof as the primary account holder from streaming content last year.

Under the new rules, Netflix charges users wanting to share an account £4.99 per month, which costs the same as having your own ad-based subscription.

How to save on your Disney+ subscription

If you’re looking for ways to combat the new charge, you can save on your subscription in other ways.

Lloyds Bank’s Club Lloyds account gives you 12 months’ Disney+ standard with ads streaming for free – it’s normally £4.99 a month, £59.88 for a year.

The account is fee-free as long as you meet the £2,000 a month minimum pay-in – there’s a £3 a month fee if you don’t.

Or, if you have a Tesco Clubcard with enough points, you can use your Clubcard vouchers to get 50% off a three-month Disney+ subscription.

Although, this only works with standard with ads and standard subscriptions.

When you swap your vouchers, you’ll get a code that’s valid until May 1, 2025, so if you’re an existing Disney+ subscriber you can wait till your current plan expires, and then use the code.

How to cancel your Disney+ subscription

If you’re unhappy with the changes to your subscription you can cancel anytime by following these simple steps.

It’s important to note though that if you cancel, you won’t be able to watch TV shows or any other content through the streaming platform.

You can cancel at any time and there is no fee to leave.

Start by logging into your Disney+ account online.

Then click the Manage Account button which can be found in the top corner of the screen.

From the plans and billing section, click on your subscription. Then, click cancel subscription and follow the last few steps to confirm.

Do bear in mind, that if you cancel halfway through your billing cycle, you’ll still be able to use the account until your next payment date.

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

STRUGGLING households have only a few hours left to claim hundreds of pounds worth of white goods or a new boiler — here’s how to apply now.

The Household Support Fund (HSF) is a government scheme which aims to support those most in need.

2

2

Advertisement

Around £1.8million is available to households in Gateshead until September 30.

Households struggling to afford energy bills, food and wider essentials will be eligible for the fund.

The council confirmed they will use the funds to help residents replace kitchen appliances, install carpets for warmth, repair or replace boilers, and pay off large utility bills.

However, only householders in Gateshead who need support will be eligible.

Gateshead Council will evaluate a household’s income and expenses to decide if they qualify for assistance from the funds.

Residents who have received funds from the scheme since May 1 will no longer be eligible to apply again.

The council announced that they will not be offering food vouchers as part of the scheme.

Households in need of food support should reach out to Citizens Advice Gateshead for additional help.

What is the Household Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first set up in October 2021 and has now been extended six times.

Councils in England are now able to benefit from the latest round of funding which amounts to £421million.

Nationwide councils have received a portion of the cash to distribute to households in need.

But there is a postcode lottery to determine who qualifies and each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.

Yet if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, or are deemed to be vulnerable or on benefits, you will probably qualify for help.

The HSF’s fifth round of funding will close on September 30, but the government has extended the scheme until April 2025 with the injection of a further £421million.

Applications may still be being accepted for the fifth round of funding, so it’s still worth checking with your local authority.

Applications to access the next round of funding will open in October.

Councils will determine how the cash is distributed. For example, households in Leicestershire have been able to apply for a financial award of £300 per household, which was paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food.

The payment could be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.

Meanwhile, residents of Leeds could receive council tax support with those with dependent children able to claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25.

You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.

The help you can get varies, depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.

You may be able to receive free cash or vouchers to cover the cost of heating your home, or the weekly food grocery shop.

If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.

Additionally, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.

Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.

How do you apply?

To get the help, you’ll need to look it up with your council because local authorities are the ones responsible for distributing the funding.

To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.

Once you’ve identified your local council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding online.

Every council has a separate application process, meaning specific details regarding how to apply depend on whereabouts you live.

The eligibility requirements to access the fund might vary in addition so it’s best to check with your local council for further details.

Some councils won’t need you to apply for help and will get in touch instead if you qualify.

If you can’t find any information on your council’s website, it’ s a good idea to call them and ask for further information.

History of the Household Support Fund

Here is everything you need to know…

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

Advertisement

Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £500million 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.

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

Advertisement

The current fund is due to close on September 30 although there have been calls to extend it again.

A MAJOR coffee chain with over 2,000 branches has abruptly shut leaving customers “absolutely gutted”.

The Costa Coffee branch in Fleet Walk, Burnley, has pulled down the shutters for the final time.

1

The branch has actually been closed since the start of the month with customers left confused as to why it was empty.

But the company has now confirmed the closure is permanent, and it is set to be replaced by another shop.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “We can confirm that our Costa Coffee store on Fleet Walk, Burnley, which is owned and operated by one of our corporate partners, closed for trade at the beginning of September 2024.

“Customers are however still able to visit the Costa Coffee store located in Tesco on Centenary Way.”

Many shoppers were left disappointed after the branch shut down.

Commenting on news of the closure one said: “Absolutely gutted on Saturday when I couldn’t get my Costa!”

Another wrote: “Town centre is dying of a slow death.”

A third quipped that the situation was a “Costa living crisis”.

The store only reopened in July 2022 following a refurbishment inside.

The popular café has already closed dozens of its sites in recent months.

Costa closed its branch in Alexandra retail park, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday 1 September.  

The franchised site had been open for nine years, and customers have said it was a “great place”.

Coffee giant Costa regularly reviews its store estate across the UK.

This can include the closing or renovation of existing stores, or the opening of new stores.

Below we reveal the full list of Costa Coffee sites which have already shut and those which are due to close this year.

To find your nearest store or Costa Express machine, you can visit the chain’s website.

Which Costa Coffee shops have closed?

Each of the sites which have closed has further Costas nearby, which you can find using the locator tool on the chain’s website.

The following branches closed, or are set to close this year.

• Packhorse Road, Buckinghamshire – January 10
• King Street, Maidstone, Kent – January 20
• Chiswick High Road, London – February 6
• Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh – February 14
• Rottingdean, Brighton and Cove – February
• Erdington High Street, Birmingham – March 1
• Cheltenham (inside House of Fraser) – March 23
• Stockton Heath, Warrington – April 11
• High Street West, Uppingham – May
• Rhyl High Street, North Wales – May 14
• The Martlets, Burgess Hill, July 8
• Maryport Street, Devizes – August 15
• Alexandra retail park, Tunstall – September 1

Here are the Costa shops which closed in 2023:

• Coliseum retail park in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire – June 3
• Welch Way, Witney – June 5
• Wigan town centre – June 25
• Five Rise Shopping Centre, Bingley – July 9
• High Street, Worcester – July (relocated September 15)
• Lowestoft’s North Quay retail park – July 23 (refurbishment)
• Church Street, Oakham – September 15
• West Bridgford, near Nottingham – September 22
• Commercial Street, Newport, Wales – October
• Church Street in Malvern, near Worcestershire – November 17
• Gatwick Airport South Terminal – November

Which other food and drink chains have closed?

Food and drink chains in general have been suffering in recent months as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.

Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.

Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.

In early 2023, burger chain Byron Burger collapsed into administration resulting in the loss of over 200 jobs.

Prezzo, the Italian chain, also revealed plans to shut 46 restaurants last year as a result of soaring energy and food costs, putting 810 jobs at risk.

More recently, Papa Johns confirmed 43 closures for May 2024.

Although some chains have managed to persevere, like Greggs which announced huge expansion plans.

Bakery chains Wenzel’s the Bakers and Patisserie Valerie are also looking at opening new branches.

RETIRING early might sound like an impossible goal, but anyone can manage it if they know the tips and tricks to saving at the right time and in the right way.

The good news is that even small changes can make massive difference to how much you have saved and when you can afford to stop work.

1

A new movement, known as the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early) are looking to retire as soon as possible.

But you don’t need to be this extreme – there are realistic ways to retire early without working too hard.

The earlier you start making small changes, though, the easier it is, and if you leave retirement saving too late, you might actually have to retire later than you’d prefer.

We spoke to Robert Cochran, a pensions expert at Scottish Widows, to uncover the secret to retiring early and comfortably.

You can watch the video above to hear more about his top tips.

Start early

Cochran’s first tip is to get saving as soon as possible. There are two reasons for this, the first is straightforward – starting earlier means more savings.

For instance, if you saved £100 a month into your pension from aged 16, you’d have £46,800 by the time you were 55, without any investment growth, employer contributions, or tax relief.

But, if you started at 40, you’d only have £22,500.

The more important consideration is investment growth, which compounds over time. Essentially this means that the returns you earn on your pensions are reinvested, which, so the money grows exponentially.

Cochran explained: “Einstein said that compound interest was the eighth wonder of the world, these who know it will grow it, and those who don’t will pay it.”

For instance, if you pay a thousand pounds into a pension, and it earns 5%, in the first year you would get £50 added, in the second you’d have £1,050 invested and get £52.50 back.

The year after that you would get £55.13 added, and by year 10 you’d be getting £77.57 in interest – all without saving any extra money.

If you keep adding to the pension each year, the results are even more stark. For instance, if you saved £1,000 a year into a pension with growth of 5%, from age 18-55, you’d have £107,709.55 to retire on. 

Of that, £69,709.55 would be interest paid, which is essentially free money that you’ve earned on your savings.

If you were paying minimum auto-enrolment levels on the average UK full time salary, which works out as around £2,797 a year, you’d have £301,263.60 to retire on aged 55. But if you didn’t start saving till you were 30, you’d have just £142,964.33.

Consider saving into a pension for your children

Parents are allowed to open Junior SIPPs for their children, which is a way of saving money for their retirement.

You’re allowed to save up to £3,600 a year, 20% of which comes in the form of tax relief from the Government. That means you can save £240 a month before tax relief.

If you do this from birth until they are 18, you’ll have over £64,800 saved for them.

Even if they never pay another penny in themselves, they’d have £394,075.17 by age 55, with returns of 5%. If they wait until they’re 60 to access the cash, they could have half a million pounds to retire on.

Cochran said: “You can actually pay contributions in for children. So, imagine somebody’s born and then you pay in contributions for them till they’re age 18… and then you leave that money to grow by the time they’re 60.

“That money could be worth £1 million. And that’s purely through compound and growth.”

Don’t leave cash on the table

Cochran’s third tip is to make sure that you’re never missing out on free money that’s available.

The first thing to consider is auto-enrolment. Most people aged between 22 and 64 who are employed are auto-enrolled into a pension.

The minimum auto-enrolment level is 8% of your qualifying earnings, which is made up of a mix of money deducted from your salary, tax relief, and contributions from your employer.

It is possible to opt-out of auto-enrolment, but not only does that mean you won’t be saving, you’ll also miss out on the contributions from your workplace. That means you’re giving up free money from your boss, and you’ll lose the tax relief too.

Even if you’re not eligible for auto-enrolment, for instance if you’re under 22, or earn less than £10,000 a year from a single employer, you might be able to opt in. 

For instance, if you earn more than £6,240, you can choose to join the scheme and your employer will still have to pay contributions.

Another key thing to look out for is matching, which is when your employer says it will pay more money into the scheme if you do, up to a maximum. 

Cochran explained: “Go back to your employer and find out the maximum contribution you’re entitled to get from them.

“If you’re not receiving it, go ahead and ask for it. It might mean that you have to pay a little bit more, but do not leave cash on the table.”

Track down lost pensions

The Pension Policy Institute says that there is £26.6billion in lost pensions money.

Typically, this is where people have saved into a scheme but then moved job or house and forgotten about the pot.

Cochran said: “Use the Government’s free pension tracing service and find out what you’ve got.”

To get started, gather all the pensions paperwork you do have, and make a list of every employer you’ve worked for or private pension you’ve opened.

The tracing service will tell you who ran the scheme at the time, and how to contact them. Then, you can get in touch and check whether they have any retirement savings in your name. 

Make a plan

The fifth thing to do if you want to retire early is make a concrete plan.

Cochran said: “You need to know what you’re going to be doing in retirement… so, look towards your future. Use the tools and calculators that are there to help you.”

We’ve done a round up of some of the most useful tools out there, which can help you work out what you’re on track to have saved, and what you can do to improve your retirement prospects.

Start by working out how much you need to have squirrelled away, and don’t be scared by illustrative examples.

For instance, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) retirement living standards research says that a single person who wants a comfortable retirement will need £43,100 a year to live on.

But of course, this is higher than the average UK salary, and there are lots of people who live comfortably on much less.

The amount you need will be determined by how early you want to retire, your life expectancy, your salary and typical monthly expenditure, and whether you own your home or not.

If you’re over 50, you can book a free and impartial session with a Pension Wise adviser who can share important information and make sure you understand all the facts before you decide to retire.

Millions of households could be in line for cost-of-living payments worth up to £3,225 this winter.

For those under financial pressure, several schemes offering support to help you get through the cold period.

1

With additional heating costs, not to mention Christmas expenses, the winter months can mean additional financial pressure.

For some this will be exacerbated by the government’s decision to limit the number of people who receive the £300 winter fuel payment from this year.

The support available includes the following…

Warm home discount – worth £150

The £150 warm home discount is available to pensioners and those on low incomes.

Those who qualify for the discount will have £150 deducted from their energy bills by the end of March 2025.

You’ll be eligible if you receive the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit, or are on a low income and have high energy costs.

The discount should be automatically deducted from your energy bill this winter if your eligible, but those on low-incomes living in Scotland need to apply through their energy providers.

If you were eligible for the payment last winter and did not receive it, contact your energy supplier.

If your energy supplier is unable to help write to the warm home discount scheme on 110552 Warm Home Discount Scheme,
PO Box 26965, Glasgow, G1 9BW.

Winter fuel payment – £300

This year winter fuel payments will only be made to retirees on Pension Credit and several other means-tested benefits.

Under the new rules, all households claiming the following benefits will automatically receive this year’s winter fuel payment, unless they live abroad:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment Support Allowance
• Child tax credit
• Working tax credit

Only those living abroad and meeting certain conditions must apply for the cash this winter.

If you do not live in the UK, you’re only eligible for the winter fuel payment if:

• You moved to an eligible country before January 1, 2021
• You were born before September 23, 1958
• You have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK – this can include having lived or worked in the UK and having family in the UK

You only need to claim winter fuel payment if you’ve not received it since you moved abroad.

To claim by post, you’ll need to fill in the winter fuel payment claim form and post it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.

This will be available at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim from September 30.

Cold weather payment – £25 a week

Cold weather payments are made to eligible residents in areas where the temperature is recorded at zero degrees Celsius or below, for seven consecutive days.

A £25 payment will be made for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 2024 and March 31 2025.

You may be eligible for the payments if you receive:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Support for Mortgage Interest

Payments are made automatically, so you do not need to apply for the benefit.

Christmas bonus – £10

Those receiving benefits could be eligible for a £10 Christmas bonus.

The Department for Work and Pensions usually pays the bonus during the first full week of December.

If you receive any of the following benefits, the money will be paid automatically into your registered payment account.

• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Child Disability Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
• Industrial Death Benefit
• Mobility Supplement
• Pension Credit – the guarantee element
• Personal Independence Payment 
• State Pension 
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Unemployability Supplement or Allowance
• War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
• War Widow’s Pension
• Widowed Mother’s Allowance
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• Widow’s Pension

The bonus isn’t available to those who receive Universal Credit only but someone on Universal Credit who also receives one of the qualifying benefits will receive it.

Household Support Fund – up to £740

Struggling households can access a range of support to help with the cost of living via the Household Support Fund.

The fund has recently has been extended for the sixth time, with £421million set to be made available to regional councils to distribute from October 2024.

The support you can access depends on where you live, but funds can be paid out as shopping or fuel vouchers, cash payments or other means.

Under the previous round of funding households in Leicester could apply to receive £300 payments to help with utilities and essential costs.

In Plymouth eligible residents could receive a maximum of £740 in vouchers.

This included £240 in supermarket vouchers, £200 in energy vouchers as well as an essential item of household furniture or white goods or £300 of clothing vouchers.

Schemes vary across the country, but every council will receive funding to distribute.

To see what’s on offer where you live contact your local council.

Energy grants – up to £2,000

Energy firms are handing out up to £2,000 to help those struggling with energy costs to cover bills.

A number of firms, including British Gas and Octopus Energy, are offering grants and other support.

They have different schemes and different criteria to access help, so you need to check what is offered through your provider.

But many will write off debts or offer grants for as much as £2,000.

If you’re not entitled to financial help this winter there are easy changes you can make to cut energy bills.

From reducing energy consumption to effectively heating your home The Sun’s guide can help you cut costs.

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