£250 Cost of Living Boost Coming Soon for UK Families: The Government has announced a one-off cash boost of £250 for households with an annual gross income below £40,000. The scheme is meant to ease the burden on basic living expenses—such as food, energy bills, water bills, rent, internet, phone, clothing, transport, or white appliances (fridge, washing machine, cooker).
Remember, if white appliances are needed, it will be direct supply of the appliance, not cash, with the maximum cost limited to £250.
Support Period and Eligibility
Support period
The scheme is being administered under the seventh phase of the Household Support Fund, which runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The money reaches local councils across the UK via direct bet bank transfer, and is distributed to beneficiaries by the council.
Eligibility criteria
You must live in the Borough of Enfield—but each council has its own rules.
The household must have a net income of £40,000 or less.
Savings must be less than £1,000.
Most importantly: You must be on one of the following Disability or Income-based benefits between 15 January–28 February 2025:
- Universal Credit
- Income‑based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income‑related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working / Child Tax Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
For the first time, PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance holders are also included in this benefit, as are those who have long-term medical expenses.
Read more: $2350 Canada CRA Payment June 2025: Eligibility, Payment Dates, and Claim Process
What is the Application Process?
You will need to provide a detailed personal statement of hardship – such as struggling to afford food, bills, rent etc.
Proof of household income, recent bank statements and energy/water bills if required.
The support amount will be £250 (cash) or white appliances (direct supply) – as required by council rules.
Enfield Council will also provide advice on how you can increase your income or reduce expenses – to make you a little better off.
When Will You Get the Support?
Payments will be direct bank transfer, not cash or cheque.
The funds will be credited to your account between 17-30 June 2025.
There may be a slight delay due to technical reasons, but all payments will be completed by the first week of July 2025.
Why Is This Scheme Important?
High energy bills
Rising energy rates are causing poorer households to face greater financial challenges. £250 can solve small expenses like electricity, gas, water, or rent right away.
Meeting basic needs
Food, clothing, appliances. Helping with these needs can improve your quality of life and make things a little easier.
Reduced financial stress
A little extra money in your household budget can be a huge relief from mental stress—especially for people who are struggling with monthly bills.
People who face discrimination
For the first time, Disability Beneficiaries are included, taking into account those on disability allowance and the elderly, as their day-to-day expenses and challenges are different.
Different Council Policies
Each council receives funding from the DWP, so each council’s rules, expense sheet, and payment policy can be different. This means:
- Some councils (such as Enfield) will give “£250 straight cash”.
- Some will provide white appliances for free.
- In some places, the help may be in the form of groceries or stamps.
So check your local council’s website or helpline to see what their rules cover.
£250 Cash vs White Appliances
If you need help with food or bills, £250 cash is a great help.
If you need a refrigerator, washing machine, cooking hotplate, etc, the council will supply these directly—but up to a maximum of £250.
Having these simple but essential items makes a huge difference in the quality of everyday life.
Households With a High Monthly Income to Low Income
If someone has an annual income of less than £40,000 but some of their household income goes towards rent or a mortgage—£250 cash could help with rent or bills. This will provide relief to households in need.
DWP’s Aim
The aim of the DWP is not just to provide direct support for poverty, but to provide stability—so that households are not caught in financial instability, and to provide temporary relief when costs rise suddenly.
How Long Is the Scheme in Place?
The scheme is due to run until 31 March 2026. After that, it may continue or stop depending on government or local authority policy.
Criticisms or Drawbacks
- The £250 is one-off money—it may be hard to meet ongoing needs.
- Some councils may miss out because eligibility is too narrow to cover.
- This amount of support spread out is unlikely to be a long-term solution.
- But it does provide immediate relief and eases everyday hardship for a while.
Finally…
This £250 cash or equipment boost helps households with an annual income of less than £40,000.
The eligibility and payment process is pretty straightforward—not easy to miss. The scheme will run from April 2025–March 2026, with payments starting from 17–30 June 2025.
Different councils, like Enfield, will have different rules, so be sure to check your area.
If you want to be a part of the scheme, check your local council’s website right away, and get the documents ready. Not only will it be a hassle today, it will also ease the financial pressure on your family.
