Households in one part of the UK are being handed £50 vouchers to spend in supermarkets this week to help with the cost of living.
The supermarket vouchers are being awarded to families in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, who receive Council Tax Support, which is a means-tested benefit for those on a low income. Those who qualify will be issued the vouchers this week and while this specific scheme only applies in Wakefield, the vouchers are being supplied as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Household Support Fund and other local councils are giving out cost of living support in other parts of the UK too. The DWP scheme gives local councils across England a share of a funding pot worth £742 million and helps vulnerable homes pay for essential living costs over the winter months, including energy bills, food and other essentials.
The funding is allocated from now until March 31, 2026, and local councils independently decide how to share the cash, so depending on where you live, there may be different criteria to qualify for the support.
In West Yorkshire, Wakefield Council has confirmed it will be issuing supermarket vouchers worth £50 to families in receipt of Council Tax Support this week. Eligible households don’t need to apply as the vouchers will be issued automatically from December 15, 2025.
Wakefield Council said: “Eligible households do not need to apply for these vouchers. They will be issued automatically. Please allow up to 14 days for the voucher to arrive.
“Full instructions on how to redeem the voucher will be included in the letter. Once the voucher has been redeemed, it doesn’t have to be spent all at once. It can be used several times until the entire amount has been spent. Please note that receipt of these vouchers will not affect entitlement to any other benefits you may be receiving.”
As Household Support Fund cash is distributed independently by local councils in England, it means that the cost of living support available will vary by location, with different vouchers or grants up for grabs up and down the country.
The payments may also be issued at different times depending on where you live, so it’s possible for some to receive the support in time for Christmas, while others may have a longer wait.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says there may also be differences in who the money is given to and if or how you need to apply for the support, as some local councils opt to share the money out through local charities and community groups, while some limit household applications to one per year.
For example, households in Staffordshire can receive a one-off £300 utility payment directly from their utility provider via the scheme, while residents in Calderdale can receive a maximum of two payments of £85, totalling £170 worth of support.
In the East Midlands, households in Nottingham can apply for £100 vouchers to spend in supermarkets, while in South Yorkshire, Doncaster Council is giving eligible households up to £300 towards food costs, and other households can qualify for a £100 payment to go towards energy bills.
In the East of England, Cambridgeshire County Council is issuing £110 to eligible households in the form of direct payments or supermarket vouchers, while in North West England, Cheshire and West Chester Council is issuing £100 payments to low-income pensioner households in December.
