The government has relaunched the Household Support Fund grants with an additional £500 million to help households with the rising cost of living.
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The Household Support Fund was first launched to help families and pensioners with costs as we came out of the other side of the pandemic.
As furlough came to an end in October 2021 and to replace the COVID local support grant, the Household Support Fund was set up.
On top of that, more families than before needed support due to job losses or changes in their personal circumstances. Not everyone could get back to where they were financially straight away, and the grants were set up to help families pay for essentials.
However, as the cost of living and energy bills are rising so sharply, the government has announced another £500 million in new funding from April 2022 to help.
The money is a cash grant that doesn’t need to be repaid and helps buy household essentials.
Also see: find information on a white goods grant and grants for furniture and carpets
Household Support Fund 2022
To help with the rising cost of living, the government has made another £500 million available to support households.
You can use the Household Support Fund money for household essentials.
They intend people to use the money to meet daily needs such as food, clothing and utility bills over the next few months.
You can apply for the cash grants directly with your local council from October 2021.
Support Fund extension into 2023
The government has extended the scheme further with an additional £500 million of support.
This has been extended until 31 March 2023 for England and the devolved nations.
Use instead/as well as the £150 council tax rebate
As some of you are aware, there is a £150 council tax rebate due (either as cash or as a reduction in council tax costs, depending on how your council has managed it).
This was announced as part of the spring statement in 2022 to help with rising energy costs.
The only issue – this rebate was targeting at people who live in council tax properties A – D and who are (usually) not exempt.
If you live in a larger property or don’t pay council tax, you won’t get any help with this rebate.
Just because you live in a more expensive council tax banded house or are exempt from the tax doesn’t mean you cannot afford the energy hikes either!
Instead, contact your council and ask for help through the Household Support Fund.
There is funding there – so use it, please.
How to apply for a Household Support Fund
The grants are available from councils in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
You need to apply to your local council directly.
Our understanding is they are prioritising grants for families with children and pensioners. However, if you are struggling, don’t let that put you off applying!
As with previous support grants, we can guess that you’ll need to be over 16. You will likely need to show you have been affected financially by the continuing rising costs.
We expect you need to prove to the council that you don’t have any spare money to support yourself or your family in the short term.
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Gary Key says
I would just like to say, we have all been through a lot in the last 18 to 20 months, with covid-19 etc, but i would like to say weather you like boris Johnson or not, i say for a prime minister to have to deal with all whats happened in the past few months is just unreal, yes there will always be controversy but at the end of the day, we are all trying to survive on money we either work for or living of benefits.
Joane says
so wot abt everyone else whos not u c its wrong we r struggling as well.
Naomi Willis says
It may be worth using the eligibility calculator on Turn2us to see if you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to.
Check with your local council if there is any other kind of support available.
Michelle Hughes says
I can’t apply for the voucher for food and clothes and that I don’t know to do it
Naomi Willis says
Contact your council as applications are done directly with them. If you search household support fund and your council name, details should come up.