Parents being handed free £125 Cost of Living payments for half-term

Some parts of England are handing out free £125 payments to parents to help them get through the holidays. Cost of Living payments are being made to parents after the Household Support Fund (HSF) was extended by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Reading Borough Council is handing out food vouchers to families whose children are on free school meals or pupil premium. Around 3,900 households are expected to receive the vouchers, which will be sent from December and are worth £125 per household.

Councillor Ellie Emberson, lead for corporate services and resources, said: "The Council has designed a local package of support which directs this invaluable funding to households in Reading who will most need it this winter, which again includes families claiming pupil premium free school meals, care leavers and pensioners."

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Elsewhere, Slough Council is distributing £10 food vouchers per week per child to households in receipt of free school meals this half term. The local authority is also handing out the vouchers over the Christmas two-weeks break, and February half term.

Ealing Council is handing out supermarket vouchers to parents with children on free school meals. Parents will receive vouchers across this half term, plus December, February and March breaks. The vouchers are worth £90 per child across the four school breaks.

The Household Support Fund is a government grant allocated by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to councils in England. Reading has received £1,130,648 to help residents in need, including low-income families, care leavers, and pensioners. The grant helps families and vulnerable individuals who may struggle to pay for basic living costs.

Funding is aimed at anyone who is vulnerable or struggling to pay for essentials. You don’t need to be on benefits to get help from your council. If you do receive benefits, they won’t be affected by a Household Support Fund payment.