Delayed vouchers leave hundreds of families without food over summer holidays

Hundreds of low-income households in Stockport, Greater Manchester, haven’t received vouchers to help with household essentials according to a report in the Manchester Evening News.

The family support vouchers are given to families whose children get free school meals or those receiving local council tax support and/or housing benefit. They are worth £105 per eligible child and can help with the cost of energy and utilities or be used to buy food and other essentials.

The vouchers are sent via email to eligible families and can be accessed at Post Office Payout.

But a number of residents in Stockport say they haven’t received the email for the period up to September 30. It’s believed that hundreds of other families could be in the same situation.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the missing vouchers have caused concern that families may go hungry if the issue isn’t resolved soon.

Nicola from Offerton hasn’t received her vouchers and said the council asked her to fill in a form and wait 14 days for a response. She said: “We’ve not been able to find one person who has received these vouchers by email.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to says they don’t have them, and they’ve checked their spam inbox but it’s not there either. People are really worried about it.

“People can use it for whatever they want, things like school uniforms, fuel and food. I’m worried people won’t be able to feed their children because of this.

“It’s a lot of money and it would go very far for a family. No one (at the council) seems to be taking any responsibility for it, we’re being fobbed off and people could be starving in 14 days, but I don’t think they see it as a problem.”

Stockport Council has addressed the issue on its website, stating: “We’re aware that there are delays in sending out vouchers.

“Please make sure you trust emails from the Post Office Payout system by accepting emails from [email protected].”

The council has asked residents affected by the delay to wait until Monday 12 August before contacting them.

It will also extend the voucher redemption dates by 30 days from the date it is received in residents’ inboxes.