Thousands in Greater Manchester borough to get £200 for free

Thousands of people in Salford could get a £200 payment from the council to help heat their homes this winter.

Salford City Council has set up its own scheme to help struggling households in the city with their energy bills, after changes to the government's winter fuel payment sparked fears that some pensioners could miss out on vital support as temperatures drop.

Bosses at the town hall say there are about 3,000 residents in Salford who are eligible for the cash through its local scheme, and these households will be contacted by the council directly with a unique code which they can use to claim the money.

READ MORE: New bus service could link Salford Quays and Manchester city centre

It is aimed at helping people of state pension age who already get help through Salford's council tax reduction scheme but are not getting pension credits. Those who claim the money will have it deposited into their bank account after some identity checks.

The council said the payment was made possible because of an extension of the Household Support Fund for a further six months until March 2025 - funding given to town halls from the government to help struggling households. In total, the new scheme could cost Salford council around £600,000 if everyone eligible claims their £200 payment.

Salford's Labour Mayor Paul Dennett said people in the city have faced "challenging and difficult times" over the past 14 years due to cuts to welfare and the council's budget.

He added: "We continue to be hugely passionate about doing everything possible to support our residents, families and communities at this time, especially as we continue to grapple with the challenges arising out of the cost-of-living crisis."

The council's new winter support