Support vouchers have been sent to help support people across Reading struggling with the rising cost of living.
The Household Support Fund is a government scheme that sees funding from the Department of Work and Pensions sent to local authorities to distribute among residents who need some additional support.
Reading Borough Council says it has so far distributed 2,261,298 vouchers, which can be exchanged at a Post Office for £125, to help with the cost of energy, water, food and housing.
Eligible people include those in receipt of free school meals, and care leavers – those leaving foster or child care institutions, and they have received a voucher automatically.
A second payment will be made in December.
The vouchers can be cashed in at a post office.
Support is also available for pensioners who receive Housing Benefit but do not receive the direct government support provided to recipients of other Department of Work and Pension benefits – they will receive a £450 direct payment to their bank account in October.
How the Household Support Fund round 4 will be implemented was discussed by Reading Borough Council’s policy committee.
Cllr Rob White said the payment would be welcomed by those struggling, but accused the government of damaging public funding cuts.
The Green party member for Park Ward and leader of the opposition said: “It’s important to acknowledge that this is just a small sticking plaster over what are massive cuts that the Conservative government has inflicted on our residents year after year after year.
“But it’s definitely going to be appreciated by the residents who do receive the support.”
He questioned why £109,630 was set aside for promotion and contingency.
Cllr Liz Terry, lead councillor for corporate services and resources replied that some of the fund was being held back if promotion is needed.
“If there’s high take up then we might need some more money, so it’s there as a contingency,” the Coley ward Labour councillor said. “If the take up is good and we just need to use it to meet demand, we won’t need any for promotion because we know people know about it and are making applications.”
The council will invite applications from families and individuals who may be eligible for the support.
This application process is not yet online, but will be found on the council’s household support fund website once it is implemented.
The council’s policy for the implementation of the Household Support Fund round 4 was agreed unanimously on Monday, July 10.
