Nottingham City Council is providing extra financial support to residents for food and energy bills this winter through the Household Support Grant.
More than £1.5million is being pledged towards a package of vouchers for Nottingham residents who receive Council Tax Support. People can claim in two periods from 6 December to 31 January and again from 1 February to 31 March, enabling households to claim vouchers twice to help through the winter months.
The voucher package includes:
- Supermarket e-vouchers (two £50 vouchers worth £100 in the December/January allocation and one £50 voucher in the February/March allocation)
- Energy bill e-vouchers (worth £49 in each allocation)
Free School Meal holiday e-vouchers (worth £15 per pupil per week) are also being made available through schools.
The City Council has secured the funds from the Government’s Household Support Grant.
The supermarket and energy bill e-vouchers will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications open on 6 December and will close at midnight on 31 January 2022. The second allocation of e-vouchers will start on 1 February and end at midnight on 31 March 2022.
Cllr Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, said: “People are struggling with the cost of living. More people began using food banks during the pandemic. Now food and energy bills are continuing to rise and Universal Credit has been cut.
“By securing this funding for Nottingham residents, we are able to allocate over 20,000 e-vouchers to Nottingham people who need help.
“These e-vouchers will help residents and families to keep the heating on and put food on their tables this Christmas.”
The supermarket e-voucher package is open to all Nottingham City households in receipt of Council Tax Support:
- Each household can claim for two supermarket e-vouchers and one energy bill e-voucher in the first allocation period and then one supermarket e-voucher and one energy bill e-voucher in the second allocation period.
- Residents will need to provide their unique Council Tax Reference Number which is shown on Council Tax Bills.
- Residents who meet the criteria will be sent two £50 e-vouchers via email that can be redeemed at local supermarkets and utilises the EdenRed scheme.
To apply for energy bill e-vouchers, city residents will need to be in receipt of Council Tax Support and:
- For pre-payment customers: have £50 or less credit on their pre-payment meter
- For credit billing customers: have £20 or more owing on their last statement
Cllr Webster added: “No one in Nottingham should have to choose between heating and eating. The Household Support Grant is a welcome relief. But more must be done to address financial inequality in the UK.
“We need sustainable solutions which give people opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty and keep pace with the rising cost of living. Temporary support grants are welcome but a more sustainable solution must be found to tackle inequality in the longer term.”
People can check whether they are eligible for Council Tax Support here: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/counciltaxreduction
Apply for the Household Support Grant here: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/HouseholdSupportVouchers