Shoppers could get up to £135 in vouchers (Image: Getty)
Households up and down the UK will be handed shopping vouchers worth up to £135 for major supermarkets including , Iceland, , , and this February and at Easter.
It comes after the government extended its Household Support Fund for another six months until April, giving local councils the funding to distribute help to those identified as being in need of help with the .
The money is sent to local authorities from the , which then choose to distribute the funds how they see fit.
:
It means each council has a slightly different scheme in place, with slightly different eligibility criteria, although there is no obligation for the to insist on claimants being on any particular benefits.
Several councils issue the money in the form of cash payments, while others give out supermarket shopping vouchers.
And many have set aside cash to help families in the February half-term and upcoming Easter holidays in particular, when kids will be out of school and being fed at home.
Surrey County Council is giving supermarket vouchers worth £15 per child to those who are eligible for free school meals, totalling £45 for those with three children in February half term.
Royal Borough of Greenwich in London is giving parents £15 per child for the February half term and another £30 per child on top for Easter, making £135 in total across the two holidays, for those eligible via school, and Trafford Council in Manchester has the same scheme in place.
Rochdale Borough Council gives out £15 vouchers for Aldi or Iceland in the February half term holidays.
Central Bedfordshire Council is giving out £17.50 vouchers per child, for a total of £52 for three children, for those who get free school meals.
If you aren’t sure which council area you’re in, it’ll be on your council tax bill – or you can check here.
It is not yet known if the Household Support Fund is likely to be extended again after April, so there is not yet funding in place for the vouchers for the summer holidays in 2025.