UK households given £600 cost of living payments with no benefits needed

UK households could be given as much as £600 in cost of living payments this year - with no benefits needed in order to qualify. The Household Support Fund has been extended again for 2025, with cash being handed to local councils from the DWP to spend as they see fit.

Because it’s a devolved scheme with discretion given to each authority to distribute the money, every local authority has slightly different rules about who gets the money and what they need to do in order to be eligible, as well as how much money is being given out.

Eligible households in Richmond in London will be given cash payments of up to £600 to help meet the costs of food, energy bills, clothes and other household essentials. People who are claiming Universal Credit can apply, but you don’t need to be on any benefits in order to get the money.

Instead, eligibility for the cash depends on the number of people in your household and if you have any children.

Households with one or more adults get up to £300, while those with one child get £500, and those with two or more children are given £600.

In order to qualify for the cash, you need to be aged over 18 and live in the London Borough of Richmond.

The council will also ask you to set out why you’re struggling with the cost of living, such as through loss of employment, reduced pay, benefits issues or health problems.

You can apply directly on the Richmond.gov.uk website.

But other areas are making cash payments available too.

Right now, the London Borough of Enfield is giving out cash payments of £250 to eligible households. It has three rules for those looking to apply for the cash: they must live in the borough of Enfield, have an annual household income of under £40,000 and have less than £1,000 in savings.

In Doncaster, Doncaster City Council is giving £300 payments to those on one of four benefits. Right now, Doncaster Council is offering up to £300 to households with three or more children, or payments of £100 to parents with one child and £200 for two children, as long as they are claiming Child Benefit for the child.

Manchester City Council is making a payment of £130 between now and March 2026. It says: "Households receiving Council Tax Support and a disability benefit, for example Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will get £130. Only one payment will be made per household."

Some councils stipulate that they will give the money to those on benefits, but you don’t necessarily need to be claiming any benefits to qualify for support according to the government's own rules on Household Support Fund eligibility.

Check here to see if you can apply.