Families can claim cost of living support worth £500 from DWP fund

Families grappling with financial hardship can potentially avail support worth around £500 to help with energy and food expenses. The Household Support Fund, extended for an additional six months from October to the end of March next year, is set to provide this assistance.

The Department for Work and Pensions has pumped an extra £421 million into the fund, which is distributed among local authorities across England. Separate funds are allocated to devolved governments in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The Budget revealed that an additional £1 billion is being funnelled into the fund to extend it into the 2025-2026 fiscal year starting next April. Over £49 million is being directed to councils in the West Midlands for the current funding round, with Coventry City Council primarily using its share to offer financial aid with food, energy and water bills.

Meanwhile, Birmingham is gearing up to distribute hardship payments of £200, with applications opening in early November. Coventry City Council has stated that its energy and water support is designed to cover a two-month period, meaning individuals can apply up to a maximum of three times during the six-month duration of the current scheme.

Single individuals or couples without children can receive assistance worth £120, while families can secure £160. Aid for gas, electricity, oil and water costs will be provided through a Paypoint Energy top-up or Paypoint voucher, reports Birmingham Live.

The council also has the capacity to provide three emergency food parcels per household, followed by help in finding longer-term solutions like a community supermarket. Vouchers for two months' worth of toiletries can also be issued.

These are valued at £20 for a single person or couple without children and £30 for a family. Individuals can also apply for a one-time sum towards clothing and bedding over the six-month period of current funding, with awards worth up to £95 per adult and £60 per child and a household limit of £400.

Clothing and bedding for a family of four (two adults, two children) would equate to support worth £310, which, when combined with a family award for fuel and one for toiletries, would total £500. Awards will vary on a case-by-case basis depending on eligibility and approval.

The council states it may also be able to assist with the purchase of essential household items such as fridges, freezers, and ovens, provide an engineer for heating/lighting repairs, and help with housing costs (except mortgages) in emergency situations where existing schemes cannot provide assistance.

Applicants are required to provide their National Insurance number, ARC number (if applicable for asylum seekers), and proof of financial difficulty through bank statements, benefit claims, and other financial documents. The city council has clarified the purpose of the fund: "This fund is designed to be used to support households in the most need due to financial hardship, particularly those who may not qualify for other types of government support. This includes households who have previously been ineligible following receipt of a cost of living payment. There will be a set amount of funds available each month, when that amount is reached, we will have to close the online application form until the next month starts."

They also provided an update on processing times: "We are experiencing a high level of applications at this time. Awards for fuel are presently taking 5-10 working days to issue vouchers once an award has been made. Applications for other household essentials for example, kitchen appliances, beds etc are currently taking four to six weeks to be awarded."

For those needing assistance with food, energy, or other essential household costs, applications can be submitted online.

If you require help with the application process, you can call 08085 834333 or visit the customer service centre at Broadgate House.