The festive season can be a costly time of year. Aside from the seasonal preparations, the cold weather can bring higher bills while shop prices only seem to keep going up.
For those who are struggling with their finances this winter, it can be really handy to know what support is available. Alongside the regular benefits and some grants, local councils across the country are offering help via the household support fund (HSF).
This nationwide scheme was first introduced by the Conservative government in 2021 to support vulnerable households through the cost of living crisis and Covid pandemic. But with costs and bill remaining high long past the peak of the pandemic, the ‘temporary’ measure has now been extended five times, most recently by Labour in August.
The latest round of funding has provided local authorities with a share of the £421 million pot to spend how feel will best support households in their areas. Some may provide cash grants, for instance, while others are offering supermarket vouchers, heating support and more.
In most cases, there will be strict criteria for household to be eligible for support through the local HSF. This will include factors such as income, vulnerability of the residents, number of dependents and cost of bills. Most schemes will also require households to apply, and not be awarded automatically.
Here’s your guide to what support is available in local areas across the country this winter:
London
Tower Hamlets
Access to the HSF in Tower Hamlets is available through the authority’s Resident Support Scheme. This is designed to help with “short term living costs” including food, gas/electric meters, and in some cases white goods and furniture.
The authority has also used part of its HSF allocation to provide financial support to low-income pensioners who do not qualify for the winter fuel payment.
Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “Making the Winter Fuel payment means-tested will have a detrimental effect on pensioners who are already facing the rising costs of energy bills.
“This creates a risk that pensioners will not turn their heating on for fear of not being able to pay the bills, which is wrong.
“This is why we are stepping in and providing a £175 safety net for those who will be missing out.”
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Tower Hamlets council website.
Lambeth
Lambeth council says its HSF will be used for the following:
- Support for families in receipt of free school meals during the holidays. Families will receive this support directly from their child’s school
- Extra funding to enhance the council’s cash payouts for low-income residents most in need. Eligible residents will have received a letter with details on how to collect their payment
- Funding for food banks and surplus food distribution sites
- Specialist energy saving support and advice
- Additional funding for the Emergency Support Scheme for residents in an emergency or crisis, such as residents struggling to pay bills or afford food
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Lambeth council website.
Enfield
Through Enfield’s HSF, assistance may be available for:
- Food (this may be through a food bank and pantry referrals)
- Energy bills and water bills/top-ups
- Support with housing costs, but not mortgage payments
- Wider essentials, such as broadband, phone bills, clothing or essential transport related costs
- White goods, such as a fridge/freezer, washing machine or cooker. White goods will be sourced from a suitable provider. The council will not be able to provide a cash payment
- A cash award (limited to £250)
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Enfield council website
Croydon
Croydon’s HSF fund will go towards helping residents with household costs. These could include:
- Top-ups for pre-paid energy and water meters
- Assistance with energy and water bills debts
- Food vouchers
- Housing support (in exceptional circumstances, excluding mortgage payment)
The fund can also go towards essential household appliances and essential transport costs.
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Croydon council website.
Kingston
Kingston council says it will use its HSF allocation to support households in need afford the essentials. Vouchers will be made available to support with costs such as “food, utility bills and other pressures.”
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Kingston council website.
Rest of England:
Newcastle
In Newcastle, the HSF will be used for:
- Free school meal vouchers for children over the school holidays
- Hardship payments for residents in financial difficulty (applications not yet open)
The council will also be contacting local pensioners receiving council tax support and/or housing benefit who no longer qualify for the winter fuel payment following Labour changes to the benefit.
Advise from the authority reads: “We will support 3,700 households in receipt of Council Tax Support and or Housing Benefit who will not qualify for the Government’s Winter Fuel Allowance.”
Worcestershire
In Worcestershire, the HSF will provide eligible households with:
- Financial support toward current energy and water costs
- Financial support toward energy and water debts only
- Help to repair, service and replace broken boilers and heating systems
- Support with food costs or direct provision of food
- Support with wider essentials
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Worcestershire council website.
Surrey
Surrey council will be using the HSF to fund several strands of support for struggling households, these include:
- Provision of free school meals vouchers to eligible children over the school holidays.
- Continued support for food banks, community fridges and food clubs
- Funding for the Surrey Crisis Fund
The council has also set aside £750,000 for residents via District and Borough councils.
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Surrey council website.
Hertfordshire
In Hertfordshire, residents eligible for the HSF can benefit from:
- Supermarket vouchers during the holidays for families receiving free school meals
- Money for food and energy
- Assistance with housing costs
- Additional support for people on pension credit
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Hertfordshire council website.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Council has laid out how it intends to use the HSF, with schemes including:
- Emergency payments for vulnerable households to help with essentials
- Supermarket eVoucher scheme with eligible households receiving £65 per household and £20 per additional dependant.
- Utility support worth £300
- Education support fund – households with children receiving free school meals given supermarket vouchers over the holidays.
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Staffordshire council website.
Coventry
In Coventry, vulnerable households can benefit from:
- Essential utility support worth £120 or £160 for households with children. Can be applied for a maximum of three times.
- Food support with three emergency food parcels per household
- Household appliances, furniture, clothing, bedding and toiletries all considered in exceptional cases
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Coventry council website.
York
In York, there is currently one scheme running through the HSF:
- Payment to bank account of £115, to help towards household bills for households receiving council tax support
- Discretionary payments for households in need and not receiving council tax support
For eligibility and how to apply, visit the York council website.
There are over 300 local authorities in the UK. For more information about what’s available in every area, the End Furniture Poverty charity offers a helpful assistance finder tool.
