Torridge District Council to provide further support using the Household Support Fund

As part of the Household Support Fund, Torridge District Council have announced a further payment for all pensioners in receipt of local council tax support. The payment will automatically be applied to anyone  that was in receipt of council tax support on or before 6^th June 2022 and will be in the form of a £90 voucher that can be exchanged at any post office for cash. Anybody who has already applied for council tax support prior to 6^th June and is subsequently found to be eligible will also receive a voucher under the scheme. It is estimated that around 2,100 households in Torridge will benefit under the scheme.

Residents eligible for the one-off payment will be contacted directly, by letter, with information about the fund and how the payment will be made. A second letter will then be issued with the voucher included, this can then be taken to any Post Office branch and exchanged for cash. Eligible residents will receive their vouchers before the 18^th July.

Issuing Post Office vouchers has been determined as the most appropriate method to enable people to quickly and easily access the payment, and will ensure the money is distributed as efficiently as possible.

Alongside other Devon Local Authorities Torridge has looked at directing support to those that may be finding it most difficult to manage higher bills. The £90 can be used towards any bills including utilities (gas, electricity and water); food; essential items such as clothing, blankets and heaters, white goods or any other costs or household items.

Councillor Ken James, Leader of Torridge District Council Said:

"The Council recognises that we are living in very difficult times and we hope this extra support will help people with their higher costs and stretched finances. We have tried to make the process as easy as possible and eligible households will not need to provide the Council with any personal or financial details or contact the Council to receive the voucher."

For more information or to find out what other support is available, people should visit: www.torridge.gov.uk/householdsupportfund or email household90@torridge.gov.uk.