Summer cost of living payments update in June as cash is set up to go into bank accounts

Households are being alerted to cost of living payments, which will be available this summer. Cash payments and other support may be available in some parts of the UK during June.

It is part of the Household Support Fund (HSF), which has been extended to run from summer to September. Local councils have been handed millions of pounds to manage their own emergency funds and decide who should get help.

In some areas, assistance will be automatic, while in others, people will have to apply. It could mean cash payments going into bank accounts for some households.

READ MORE: July cost of living payment updated to £75 ‘to be paid directly into bank accounts’

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To find out what’s happening where they live, people should head to the ‘Household Support Fund’ section of their local council’s website, where the latest information should be available. Many local authorities have started to announce their HSF plans.

In the West Midlands, Walsall Council has announced that cash payments will start going into bank accounts at the end of July for parents with council tax relief. Sandwell Council also said certain people would receive payments, including those in “financial difficulty” facing council tax bills and carers, but did not give a specific date for when they would arrive the money.

To qualify, most people will need to receive some form of means-tested benefit or help such as council tax relief. Some local authorities have warned that the HSF money will run out quite quickly due to the anticipated level of demand.

The Government said in an update: “In the Spring Budget, the Government announced that it is providing an extra £500 million to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund, including funding for devolved administrations under the Barnett formula, which follows to be spent at their discretion. This means that local authorities in England will receive an extra £421 million to support those in need locally through the Household Support Fund. The funding will be available to local authorities in England from 1 April 2024 and will run until 30 September 2024.”