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Households in on part of the UK are being offered up to £100 in cost of living vouchers in December to spend on food at supermarkets, energy bills and other essentials. The Household Support Fund has been extended for 2025 until March 2026, though each council sets its own application deadline.

The scheme sees the DWP send funds to local councils across the UK for the authorities to distribute to those in need as they see fit. Because the scheme gives autonomy to local authorities, each council has a different set of eligibility criteria as well as a different amount of money it will give out. This December, Nottingham City Council says it is reopening applications for its Household Support Fund from December 1 - for one week only.

It says it will allow households to apply for £100 supermarket vouchers but that households can still apply even if they already received a voucher earlier this year.

It has made a total of 10,000 £100 vouchers available for households to claim. The authority used to run the scheme on a 'first come, first served' basis but this has been changed, and now all applicants have an equal chance of getting a voucher.

It says: "We have improved how residents can apply for supermarket and energy vouchers which will enable more people to apply and have the opportunity to receive support vouchers.

"If you have difficulty in applying online, ask your family or friends to help first, or contact any of the community organisations who may be able to support and assist you.

"Vouchers are no longer awarded on a first come first served basis. All residents will receive an equal chance of receiving a voucher if they apply during the application period.

"Qualifying residents will be selected on a random basis after the closure of the application period. This process will apply to supermarket vouchers. Residents will receive confirmation they have been successful or not via email by Friday, December 12.

"Residents are advised that due to the much higher volume of vouchers released recently and anticipated, the deadline for receiving vouchers from this December 2025 release is currently February 28, 2026."

Every local authority decides how to spend the money given to it by the DWP for the scheme, so has its own rules and gives out different amounts.

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.

The UK government's website says: "Funding is aimed at anyone who's vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

"If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme.

"Councils decide how to run their schemes. There may be differences in eligibility criteria, if or how you need to apply, who money is given to.

"For example, some councils share out money through local charities and community groups and some limit household applications to one per year."

Check here to see if you can apply.