Household Support Fund
Please be aware of scam calls
We will not contact you and ask you to make a claim for the Household Support Fund.
If you require emergency support please go to the benefits and help with money page.
Household Support Fund extension (HSF6)
1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025
The Application by Referral scheme has now closed.
The Department for Work and Pensions have confirmed an extension to the Household Support Fund (HSF7) will run from 01 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
NELC will be delivering this scheme to help people pay for food and other essentials over the next 12 months.
We are currently awaiting final details of the new round of funding, in order to put plans in place with help from our partners. We will publish further information on this page, including eligibility criteria and payment amounts, when we know more.
In the meantime, if you are struggling to pay for food, energy and other essentials, you will find information about support schemes in the link below:
About the Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund has been allocated to Councils by the Department for Work and Pensions. It is to help provide financial support to those most in need because of significant cost of living pressures.
The council is committed to ensuring that as much of the funding as possible is spent in our community supporting those who need it the most.
Funding has been allocated for 6 months and is planned to be spent over this time in the following areas:
- Support for families with children eligible for free school meals – The scheme will help around 8,000 children. A £60 payment for each eligible child for Christmas break 2024. Please contact your school reception with any queries.
- Foodbanks – To support local foodbank providers who issue emergency food and household essentials.
- Direct Payments – To households in receipt of Council Tax Support that may include pensioners, disabled persons, or carers.
- February 2025 – £100 payment issued to:
- Over 650 households with a child under 5.
- Over 1,650 households with a single person or a couple with no children and no disability benefits in payment.
- Over 1,050 households with an element of earned income.
- December 2024 – £100 payment issued to: Over 1,600 pensioners (not in receipt of pension credit).
- February 2025 – £100 payment issued to:
- Warm Spaces – To contribute towards the costs of opening up community venues, extending opening hours and/or extending existing activities to provide a ‘Warm Space’ for local residents.
- Direct grants to VCS organisations – Grants will also be made to support specific help to individuals and groups who are helping to alleviate hardship.
Warm Spaces details
Contact details
If you have any further questions about the scheme, please email us at: [email protected]