Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund is there to help low income households.  It provides immediate help for those who are struggling.  This could include help with your energy, water, as well as other essentials such as food, clothing and hygiene products.

Who can apply

You can apply if you are:

• A Herefordshire resident over 16 years old, or a member of the armed forces who can demonstrate a strong connection to Herefordshire
• A legal resident in the UK, not under immigration control
• A person or household experiencing financial hardship that is able to demonstrate the need for emergency support with essential living costs that cannot be met by other sources

How to apply

All applicants must make an application by phone 01432 383838, or by completing our online application form.

When we receive the application we will contact you to gather more information.  We may ask for other information or evidence, such as proof of identity, and information about money coming in and money that must be paid out.  We will also ask for recent bank transaction statements so that we can see what essential costs you are struggling to pay for.

All applications will be treated fairly and consistently.  Applications will be processed within 2 - 5 working days, but this may be longer due to demands for the service.

Other help

Find out what other support is available to help with the cost of living. This includes income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel. 

Background

This scheme aims to support Herefordshire residents who need our help the most during the cost of living crisis, including people who have not been eligible for the other types of support the government has made available.

The funding is an extension of the Household Support Fund and has been allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions to councils in England, who will then use it to support those in need in their local area.  It will be used to provide emergency support towards day to day living such as food, and energy bills for a limited time.