Thousands of low-income households will receive free help worth £350 in the New Year to help with the cost of living.
The money is being issued by Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council as part of the Household Support Fund.
The Household Support Fund is a pot of cash provided by the Government and distributed by local councils to struggling families.
The help on offer ranges from supermarket and energy vouchers, to grants that don't need to be paid back.
But as it is down to each local authority to decide how it spends its share of this money, the support on offer can be a postcode lottery.
The Household Support Fund has been extended three times so far, with the latest instalment worth £421million, and will run until March 2023.
Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council has explained how some low-income households could receive £350 in support to help pay energy bills.
But again, it is down to the council to decide who gets these payments.
You might be eligible if you pay for your energy, you don’t receive a Council Tax Reduction and did not receive any cost of living payments from the Government.
Your total net weekly household income must also not exceed £230 for a single person, £320 for a couple or £510 for a family.
If you think you’re eligible, you can apply for the funding by filling out a form online. You will need to provide evidence of your income to claim the support.
Other help being offered in Stockton-On-Tees includes energy vouchers worth up to £100 if you already get a Council Tax Reduction.
Households with children will get £100, and households without children will receive £55.
People aged 18 to 25 years who have left care will receive a voucher worth £75.
To check what help is on offer where you live, type in the name of your local council into Google followed by "Household Support Fund".
Each council has set up a dedicated page on its website, explaining what help it is offering through the scheme.
For example, residents covered by North Yorkshire County Council can claim electronic vouchers worth £325 to help pay for food and other essentials at supermarkets.
Medway Council is offering food vouchers worth between £50 and £210, energy vouchers worth between £30 and £100 and water vouchers worth £50.
