Am I eligible for the Household Support Fund and how do I apply?
Louisa Sherlock
Associate EditorStruggling families can claim free cash from their local council during the cost of living crisis via the Household Support Fund (HSF)
And depending on where you live, you could be eligible for grants worth up to £1,000. Here’s all you need to know about who is eligible for the Household Support Fund (HSF) and how you can apply.
- Low income families to get £1,275 cash boost this year
- What is the Household Support Fund?
- Household Support Fund: What’s available in your area
- Your Household Support Fund questions answered
- Am I eligible for DWP Cost of Living payments?
What is the Household Support Fund?
The HSF, which launched in 2021, is a scheme giving councils around the UK a slice of £842million government funding.
This allows them to give free cash and vouchers to families struggling with the rising cost of living expenses. It can help pay for things like heating, your weekly shop or other costs. Support from the HSF could be in the form of:
- supermarket vouchers
- one-off or multiple cash payments
- goods such as air fryers and slow cookers
- money paid direct to energy suppliers on your behalf
- free school meals
The Fund is supported by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and runs until March 2024. You'll get payments through your local council.
You can see a full list here of the support available, broken down by area.
Am I eligible for the Household Support Fund?
You don’t need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the Household Support Fund. The scheme is for anyone who can't pay for essentials including:
- energy and water bills
- food
- essential items
However, it's not totally straightforward as to whether you will qualify for the money or vouchers.
Instead, who is eligible varies depending on where you live. That’s because each local council will set the rules for who can receive money from the HSF.
Sometimes households are eligible because they are receiving certain benefits like Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
Meanwhile other councils are providing funds or goods to those who aren't eligible for certain programmes. This means support for those families who wouldn't get help otherwise.
You'll need to contact your local council to find out if you're eligible.
More cost of living stories
- Will there be an August Cost of Living payment?
- Big Universal Credit change coming in September
- Low income families to get £350 cash boost
- Mums aged 41 and above could be owed thousands
How do I apply for the Household Support Fund?
Again, this depends on where you live.
Firstly you'll need to find your local council. When you've done this, you should then see information on how to apply for the funding on their website.
In some cases, you need to apply. In other cases, the council is reaching out directly to those who qualify and even depositing the money directly into the bank.
The first step is to get in touch with your local council and find out what they are doing with the Household Support Fund allocated to them.
Next, you can either apply for the HSF via your local council, or ask to be referred to one of the services they are funding. (This could be local community organisations or food banks).
What is my council doing?
We've got a list of what councils are doing across the country, which we're constantly updating.
If you don't see yours listed, go to the council's main benefits page and look for the words 'Household Support Fund' to find out what they're doing with this extra funding and how to apply.
Does the HSF affect my other benefits?
No. It has no impact on any other benefits you are receiving, such as Universal Credit or Child Benefit.
You also don't have to pay back the HSF money or vouchers.
Related stories
All the cost of living advice you need
CHAT: Budget hacks to keep kids entertained over summer break
