HOUSEHOLDERS who have been contacted to say they are eligible for support to tackle the cost of living crisis are being encouraged to claim a supermarket voucher to alleviate pressures on their finances, but there is not much time left to redeem the vouchers.

The Household Support Fund is designed to help people who have been identified as struggling with the increased cost of living.

Last month, the fourth phase of the scheme was rolled out to just under 22,500 people across the county who are eligible. It will provide a one-off payment in supermarket e-vouchers to ease the pressure of global inflation.

Eligible households received a letter from North Yorkshire Council last month (September) containing an individual code. This code enabled them to download a supermarket e-voucher quickly and easily through the online portal, with the option of a printed version.

The scheme was initially set up by the Department for Work and Pensions to help people meet the cost of energy bills, food and other essentials as the country recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.

So far, 82 per cent of people have claimed their voucher and the remainder of residents are being encouraged to redeem their entitlement before the deadline of Tuesday, October 24.