Household Support Fund (DWP)

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 31 March 2026. The funding is available until 31 March 2026 or until it is fully allocated.

We now have extra funding through the Household Support Fund to help people in financial crisis due to the cost of living, and we are now accepting new applications.

Only one application per household is available for the funding period from April 2025 to April 2026.  If you’ve already applied you will not be eligible to apply again. 

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 may be able to get help if you are facing significant hardship.

You cannot apply yourself. You need a referral from a professional organisation or charity that is supporting you.

The scheme is currently closed for applications. If new funding becomes available, you'll be able to get a referral from:

• registered charities - including food banks and community groups
• schools, nurseries, health visitors and midwifes
• social prescibers
• DWP
• Jobcentres
• Citizens' Advice
• Council services - including Adult Social Care, Housing, and Family Support services

This is not a complete list. A referrer can make an application if they are an involved professional or charity that is supporting you.

We will ask for some basic information about your household and finances. 

Payments are for households in immediate crisis - for example, if you cannot afford food, energy bills, or other essentials. They are short-term support while you seek longer-term help such as benefits or debt advice. We can help link you to those services if needed.

If you are on a low income or have no other financial support, an approved organisation can refer you.

If you have already had help from the DWP Household Support Fund, you may still get Ways to Welfare support if a support agency is working with you and can make a referral.

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.

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

Find out about other cost of living support

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