FRESH figures published this morning have revealed how much councils have been allocated from a giant fund.
The Household Support Fund, which has been shared between councils in England, is worth £742million.
Councils can then share their allocation between residents in need in the shape of free cash payments or supermarket vouchers.
The current round, worth £421million, is closing at the end of the month.
However, the Government has confirmed another round will run between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
The map above shows how much each English council has been allocated to give to hard-up residents in their area in the latest round and the extended round from April.
It’s worth bearing in mind, councils have only just started deciding how they will allocate their share of the fund between April 2025 and March 2026.
That means you will have to wait a bit longer to find out what specific help is on offer in your area, whether that be supermarket vouchers or direct cash payments.
However, the highest amount given to households in one part of the country in the latest round was £500, in Camden, London.
The council was allocated just over £2million to share between residents in need.
Meanwhile, Herefordshire Council is giving hard-up households £300 payments.
The local authority was given around £1.32million in this round.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the extension to the Household Support Fund, which is worth £742million, last October.
Alison McGovern, minister for employment, said: “This government will remove the scar of poverty from our society by putting an end to short-term solutions and giving everyone the tools they need to build long-term stability through our Plan for Change.
“That’s why we are extending the Household Support Fund for another year, while asking councils to give vital help earlier, so we can tackle challenges before they become crises and prevent people from falling into poverty.”
What will I be eligible for?
Each local authority can decide how to distribute its share of the Household Support Fund.
That means whether you qualify for help depends on where you live so it can be a postcode lottery.
However, the fund was originally set up to help those on a low income, benefits or deemed vulnerable.
So, if you fall into one of these three categories you are likely to be eligible for help.
It’s worth bearing in mind, because the new round of Household Support Fund doesn’t open until April, you won’t be able to apply for help just yet.
However, some local authorities may still have funding left from the latest round which you could apply for.
Camden Council in London is giving hard-up residents supermarket vouchers and cash payments worth up to £500 until March 31.
Meanwhile, York City Council is distributing payments worth £115 to households receiving Council Tax Support.
Household Support Fund explained
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains what you need to know about the Household Support Fund.
If you’re battling to afford energy and water bills, food or other essential items and services, the Household Support Fund can act as a vital lifeline.
The financial support is a little-known way for struggling families to get extra help with the cost of living.
Every council in England has been given a share of £421million cash by the government to distribute to local low income households.
Each local authority chooses how to pass on the support. Some offer vouchers whereas others give direct cash payments.
In many instances, the value of support is worth hundreds of pounds to individual families.
Just as the support varies between councils, so does the criteria for qualifying.
Many councils offer the help to households on selected benefits or they may base help on the level of household income.
The key is to get in touch with your local authority to see exactly what support is on offer.
The current round runs until the end of March 2025, but has been extended.
The next round will run between April 2025 and March 2026.
If you are eligible for the Household Support Fund, you may receive a voucher or payment automatically but may also have to apply.
It’s worth checking out your local council’s website to see what the next steps are for you based on where you live.
Other help you can claim
If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might qualify for other forms of help to cover energy bills or food.
Several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000.
This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF.
New parents might also be eligible for free food worth up to £442 a year to cover the cost of healthy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme.
Or, you can get an emergency food parcel from a Trussell Trust food bank.
You can find your nearest via www.trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.
To get a food parcel, you need a voucher from a community organisation like Citizens Advice or your GP.
You can then exchange this voucher for a food parcel at the food bank.
It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for benefits if you haven’t already – billions of pounds worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.
There are three free calculators you can use to see what you might be entitled to:
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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