On 19 March 2025, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced that the Household Support Fund would be extended for a further 12 months, from 1 April 2025 to the 31 March 2026.
As has been done for previous schemes, the fund will be made available to support those households most in need.
The Household Support Fund (DWP) is available to households who are in financial crisis and have energy debts.
The grant is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, UK Government and administered by us.
How funds will be allocated
Demand for support is high, but you should apply if you are facing significant hardship.
We will need to ask for some information about your household and your financial situation.
Payments will be made to help households in immediate crisis - for example, those unable to buy food, pay energy bills or buy other essentials. Payments are to help you get what you need while you look for support (such as advice on benefits and debt) from other organisations. We will put you in contact with those services if you need them.
If you are on a low income or have no access to other financial support and are struggling to pay your bills, you should make an application.
We welcome one application per household. You will be asked questions about your finances, including your income and savings, and you may need to provide proof to support your answers.
Ways to Welfare
Ways to Welfare is a referral-only service for residents struggling with financial hardship.
The scheme helps with costs towards:
- white goods
- furniture
- carpets
- clothing
- household essentials
- bedding
- towels
To apply, you need a referral from us, or a charity or an agency, like Age UK, DWP, and Citizen's Advice.
If your household has received help from the DWP Household Support Fund, you may still qualify for Ways to Welfare, if a support agency is helping you.
Make an application
Online is the quickest way to apply. Your application will be assessed and prioritised by the Household Support Fund Team:
Or you can call the Household Support Fund Team on 0300 373 3300
Calls from a landline will cost up to 16p per minute and can cost anywhere from 3p to 65p per minute if calling from a mobile. Please check with your network provider for call charges to this number.
Our opening hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 3pm and Friday 9am to 2:30pm.
How we use the funding
We are using this funding in a number of ways to provide support including:
- free school meals/school clothing grants
- supporting care leavers and foster carers
- supporting the holiday activity and food programme
- providing funding via our Locality Boards
Beware of scams
We don't need your bank details and never ask for them over the telephone.
If you get calls from people asking for your bank details and claiming to be us, be careful and:
- report the call to police Action Fraud
- contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline for advice if you need it on 0808 223 1133
- alert your bank, if you have given out your bank details