More than 640 East Devon residents struggling to make ends meet have been helped with a cost of living grant.
The Household Support Fund has boosted families and individuals in Exmouth, Honiton, Axminster, Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary.
A deadline for applications passed on March 31.
District council chiefs had previously handed out a total of £128,849 – 79 per cent of the cash available.
The authority was given £162,286 by Devon County Council to help residents suffering financial hardship this winter.
Out of the 648 successful applications:
- 247 are in receipt of disability benefit;
• 135 have a carer in the household;
• 25 are of pension age;
• 11 are previous members of the armed forces.
The areas with the most applicants included Exmouth (321), Honiton (113), Axminster (106), Sidmouth (65) and Ottery St Mary (61).
Seventy-nine per cent of recipients were unemployed, seven per cent were in full-time employment, eight per cent were in part-time employed and six per cent were self-employed.
A total of seven per cent of the applicants were homeowners, 90 per cent were renters and three per cent were homeless.
Councillor Megan Armstrong, portfolio holder and chair of the authority’s Poverty Working Panel, said: “The Household Support Fund has already helped hundreds of individuals and families who are finding it difficult to pay their ongoing regular household bills.
“I would encourage anyone else who is struggling financially to contact our financial resilience officers who will be happy to help and advise.
“It would be good if all of the allocated funding could be used to help support those who need help before March 31, so please do not hesitate to apply.”
EDDC can be contacted for more information here.
