Millions entitled to extra financial support from £421m pot available from today

People who are struggling with the cost of living might be able to get financial help from a £421m fund launched on October 1

Thousands of households across the country will now be able to receive extra support through a £421 million fund. It comes as the government extends provisions for the Household Support Scheme which is aimed at helping the most vulnerable households across the country.

As part of the extension, the government has provided £421 million to local authorities across the country. The fund opened for winter 2024/25 from October 1 .

Under the fund councils can use the money allocated to them to deliver support which can take a wide range of forms, including vouchers and outright cash payments. The new round of the Household Support Fund will last until March 2025.

Earlier this year, Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: "We have invested an extra half a billion pounds in the Household Support Fund to give struggling families and the poorest pensioners the help they need this winter.

“As local authorities across England deliver this lifeline support to help households with the costs of feeding children and heating homes, we are continuing our work to fix the foundations of our country, grow the economy and deliver opportunities for people to get work and get on in work, so everyone feels better off.”

Who is eligible for the Household Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund (HSF), managed by local councils across different regions, offers varied levels of assistance depending on your circumstances. Typically, you're in line for support if you fall into categories like a benefits claimant, someone deemed vulnerable, or those with modest savings.

If you have previously received help from the HSF, this may affect your eligibility for future rounds. Your local council might get in touch to detail what support you can access.

Local authorities hold the reins when it comes to determining how much each household will receive and the timing of fund distribution. For information on when applications open and eligibility criteria, your best bet is getting in touch with your local council directly.

To track down your local authority, use the "Find your local council" tool on the Gov.uk website; pop in your postcode and it will point you to the contact details and website link for your local council.