DWP confirms who is eligible for £550 Household Support Fund payments
The fund has been extended until the end of September and will benefit thousands across the country.
Household Support Fund for families explained
The Department of Work and Pensions has detailed eligibility for the extended Household Support Fund.
The fund has been extended until the end of September and will benefit thousands across the country.
The fund is designed to provide additional support for households dealing with the increasing cost of living.
Families eligible for this scheme can receive financial help to cover essential expenses, including food, utilities such as gas, electricity, and water, and essentials linked to energy and water such as warm clothing and boiler repairs.
The amounts that different households can receive is variable between different local authorities.
The DWP has announced that it will provide data to these local authorities so they can easily identify who in their area requires support.
Those that could receive support include people claiming Universal Credit, recipients of the Guarantee Credit and/or Savings Credit elements of Pension Credit, those who receive housing benefit, those earning below the free school meals and free prescription thresholds as well as those on income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The DWP has advised local authorities to also gather information from officials working within the community such as social workers, housing support officers and key workers delivering early help and family support.
The department also said that the fund is intended to cover a wide range of households including pensioners, single-person households, families with children of all ages and people struggling with "one-off financial shocks or unforeseen events."
The DWP has also urged local authorities to extend their support to disabled people that require additional support as well as care leavers and carers.
The DWP said: "Care leavers can face particular barriers as they leave the care system and begin to live independently.
For example, care leavers may not have access to the same familial networks as others and will not have the same financial, emotional or social support systems that enable them to live independently, respond to crisis or avoid becoming socially isolated.
"Authorities should also consider supporting people with caring responsibilities in their area. They may have additional heating, water or transport costs."
The fund can help cover the cost of essential household appliances like cookers and washing machines, priority will be given to food and fuel but the fund can also be used for other household items like school uniforms and bedding.
The support provided may also come as direct cash payments into the bank accounts of eligible households.
Money expert Andy Wood said: "Local authorities are offering varying levels of support tailored to their communities' needs. For example, Leeds is offering £100 payments, while Stockport has £315 available, South Ribble £350, and Lancashire £250.
"East Riding has £200 available, Shropshire offers £400, and Waverley has £550 payments."
"The fund helps with essential household bills and items, but mortgage support is not included. If you’re facing difficulties with mortgage payments, you should get in touch with your lender to explore alternative solutions."
