RESIDENTS eligible for an ‘important’ payment are being reminded to apply for it due to the ‘challenging times’ we are in.

Around £600,000 in Household Support Fund payments have already been provided to 14,000 Warrington households since October.

Warrington Borough Council is reminding residents who receive such payments that their next award will be in bank accounts before Christmas.

This will be the second of three payments in the Household Support Fund scheme, which runs from October to March next year.

Details of the next payment – worth at least £40 per household – are being finalised, with the aim to have the money in bank accounts before Christmas.

Existing applicants do not need to re-apply as the money will be paid automatically into bank accounts.

However, the council says it is keen that no one misses out on payments they are eligible for, as the funding can help to support households to pay for food, energy, and water bills.

If your household receives free school meals, pension credit, or council tax support, you will qualify for the payments and can apply online.

Or, if you just wish to find out more information about the scheme, you can fill in a short application form as warrington.gov.uk/hsf

Cllr Cathy Mitchell, deputy council leader and cabinet member for corporate resource, said: “In these challenging times, we are doing all we can to ensure residents get every penny of support they are entitled to.

“The Household Support Fund is another important source of financial support for some of our most-in-need residents. This includes parents with children, older people, and individuals on low incomes.

“Remember, you will not receive this payment automatically if you have not already applied – so if you are eligible and have not yet claimed, make sure you complete the short application form, so we can get this payment to you as soon as possible.

For more information about wider cost of living support available in Warrington, visit warrington.gov.uk/cost-living-support