Household support fund: What help is available in your area? From one-off payments to free school meals

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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:

For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Lambeth council website.

Enfield

Through Enfield’s HSF, assistance may be available for:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Staffordshire council website.

Coventry

In Coventry, vulnerable households can benefit from:

For eligibility and how to apply, visit the Coventry council website.

York

In York, there is currently one scheme running through the HSF:

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.