News Government grant of up to £500 for food or essentials
Households in Maidstone can claim up to £500 as a one off payment to help them if they are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19.
Central government has given all local authorities a grant allocation which must be distributed in their area as a non-repayable grant and Maidstone Borough Council has been given £71,000 to help those in the borough.
John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services at Maidstone Borough Council said:
“This new government grant is there to help those who have suffered financially during the pandemic, it is not restricted to those people receiving benefits, anyone can apply and if they meet the criteria we can make a payment to them.“It’s quite likely that the grant might help people who have never considered asking for help before. If you know anyone who has suffered financial hardship due to COVID-19 between July and October this year and have a household income less than £40,000 per year then please let them know about it."
Applications for the grant are available on a first come first served basis. The criteria for applying for a grant is:
- Applicants must be over the age of 16
- One application per household (not repeated)
- Lives within Maidstone Borough
- Be able to demonstrate that the financial hardship is due to Covid-19 during period July-Oct 2020.
- For those whose household income is less than £40,000 per annum.
For more information and to apply please visit the Maidstone Borough Council website www.maidstone.gov.uk/eag