A SUPPORT fund offering financial help to families in Dorset opens for applications next month.

Supermarket vouchers for £150 are available from the Household Support Fund, financed by Dorset Council but overseen by Citizens Advice, for households on low incomes as the cost of living crisis continues.

Applications will be open from 10am on Thursday, October 5.

Qualifying families will be given £150 of supermarket vouchers within six to eight weeks of their application.

Dorset Council households will be able to apply if they have an annual household net income of less than £30,000 and savings of less than £16,000 and not applied for a previous HSF payment within the last six months.

Calculations for the annual net income should not include Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance or Child Benefit. Applications are limited to one per household.

The number of vouchers available is limited. Further applications will open at 10am on November 2, December 5, January 3, February 6 and March 5.

For more information, and and to apply online, log on to www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/household-support-fund. If you need help completing the form, call 01305 221000.