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Jul 2024
Council hands out £140 supermarket vouchers to aid with rising cost of living
Households across the Harrogate district that are struggling with the rising cost of living can claim supermarket vouchers over the coming months.
The fifth phase of the Household Support Fund has been extended to more than 21,000 eligible people across North Yorkshire.
People who are eligible for the single e-voucher of £140 are those who on June 1 were getting the maximum discount on their council tax bill through the means-tested council tax reduction scheme.
The Household Support Fund was set up by the previous Government to help people who are struggling with the increases in food and energy prices.
Tens of thousands of households in North Yorkshire have already benefitted from the first four rounds of the fund.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, said:
The Household Support Fund has been a lifeline for many households in North Yorkshire who are struggling financially as inflation continues to present challenges with many recipients telling us how the voucher has really helped provide some short term relief from the immense pressure people are facing.
As before, we will continue to prioritise supporting the most vulnerable in our communities alongside the Government.
As with earlier rounds of the Household Support Fund, eligible households have been sent a letter from North Yorkshire Council containing an individual code. This code allows them to download a supermarket e-voucher through the online portal.
Council staff are on hand to support residents over the phone, by e-mail or in person at seven main council offices.
Staff and volunteers at 42 libraries in North Yorkshire have also been offering face-to-face support to people who do not feel confident in accessing their vouchers online.
The nine supermarkets accepting the vouchers are Aldi, ASDA, Farmfoods, Iceland, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. Only ASDA, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose offer both in-store and online shopping.
Cllr Phillips added:
I would urge anyone who is eligible and gets a letter to make sure they do redeem their voucher by Monday, August 5. Nobody will know when you use your voucher in the supermarket that you’ve had a Household Support Fund payment, it will look like any other voucher.
There is no need to apply for your e-voucher or phone the council as everyone who is eligible will be contacted, but you can check your eligibility online.
More information about phase five of the Household Support Fund can be found here.
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