Councils offer grants to help with living costs

Hundreds of households in West Sussex have benefited from cash grants to help with the cost of living.

Adur & Worthing Councils said they had written to more than 600 households claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support and living in energy-efficient properties, to offer £150 towards bills and essential items.

So far, more than 400 households have successfully applied for the grant, which was paid directly into bank accounts last week, the authorities said.

Adur councillor Sharon Sluman said “innovative database technology” had been used to “target support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community”.

The money for the grants comes from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The councils said it was the second time caseworkers had contacted residents directly to offer targeted financial support.

Last year, they wrote to 200 households no longer receiving the Winter Fuel Payment due to falling just outside the eligibility criteria, to offer £200 worth of supermarket vouchers.

Ms Sluman, Adur’s cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said: “We know many people are already struggling with household bills – something that will only increase with the energy price cap rise in April.

“By using our innovative database technology we have been able to target support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Councillor Dom Ford, Worthing’s cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, said the council was in “regular contact with residents to signpost them to schemes that improve energy efficiency in the home or organisations that help keep them warm and reduce their energy bills”.