Households handed £300 Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Aldi vouchers in November

UK households are being given £300 to spend at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Morrisons as well as Iceland, Farmfoods or Waitrose. The Household Support Fund has been extended again for 2025, with more money being made available by local councils across various parts of the UK.

Because the scheme is 'devolved' to local areas, each authority has different rules and gives out different forms of help, though you don't need to be on benefits to claim the fund. Surrey County Council has used DWP funding to launch its Everyday Essentials E-voucher scheme, which will enable residents to claim a voucher worth £200 to £300 to spend at all major supermarkets.

The voucher is available to claim now until March 31, 2026, but there is a set number of vouchers to claim each month, and once they're gone, applications won't reopen until the following month, so you need to act fast to get one for November.

Single households will get £200 vouchers and families will be given £300 vouchers.

The council says the scheme is open to anyone over the age of 18 living in Surrey who has household savings of £2,000 or less on average over a 90-day period and an annual household income under £27,007.50 before taxes and deductions.

You don't need to be on Universal Credit or any kind of benefits to claim.

It said: "We need to understand your household's financial circumstances to confirm that the support is needed. This will include details on the income and benefits of your partner if you live in the same household.

"You will need to be able to provide evidence, if requested, of your household's income and benefits and explain why you are making this application for support."

If you don't live in Surrey, there is likely to be support where you live instead, though the scheme may differ for each council area.

In Doncaster, households can apply for cost of living payments of up to £300 to help with supermarket shopping, as long as they have children.

In Nottingham, families can apply for £98 off energy bills and £75 of supermarket vouchers.

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.