Southwark Council has announced support for Southwark residents who struggle to pay for food, energy and other essentials.
Due to the ongoing Cost of Living crisis, Southwark Council has set up a Cost of Living Fund to provide financial support to low-income households at risk of hardship. The fund is currently open to applications from residents.
The information on Council’s website state that “to qualify for support from the Cost of Living Fund your household (you and your partner) must:
- have a low income – no more than about £20k per year or £400 per week after housing costs (rent or mortgage) and taxes (income tax and national insurance)
- normally live in the London borough of Southwark
- pay towards energy bills for the home where you live
- not be claiming any of the means-tested welfare benefits listed below now; or have claimed one or more of these benefits in the last six weeks
- face hardship because you can’t afford to pay for food, energy, or other essentials
- lack any access to other support
- not have applied to the fund and received a payment – payments are limited to one per household”
However, the fund is not available to those residents who receive welfare benefits and have claimed one or more of the following benefits in the last six weeks:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Employment & Support Allowance (income based)
- Jobseekers Allowance (income based)
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
To apply for the fund, follow the link to the Council’s website here