Vulnerable households and pensioners who receive Council Tax Support and/or Pension Credit are being issued with food vouchers by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

The one-off food vouchers can be used in community pantries or supermarkets to help with rising costs.

EHDC has begun writing directly to eligible recipients. Working-age recipients will receive a letter with a QR code to claim their voucher online. Pensionable-age recipients will receive a letter with a voucher for the nearest supermarket to their location.

Councillor Julie Butler, EHDC portfolio holder for community engagement, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is having the greatest effect on the poorest people in our district.

“I’m very pleased to be able to provide vouchers to some of our most vulnerable residents in the hope that we can reduce the number of people in the district facing the difficult choice between heating and eating.”

Letters will be from a company called Wonde Ltd. To find out more, visit the website https://www.easthants.gov.uk/food-voucher-scheme

If you are (or someone you know is) in receipt of Pension Credit but not Council Tax Support, contact the council’s benefits team by emailing [email protected] using ‘Food Voucher’ as the email subject field.

The funding for these vouchers has come from Hampshire County Council as part of the extended Household Support Fund.