The Government’s Department for Work and Pensions is running the Household Support Fund for another 12 months, to help with the rising cost of living.
The fund can help you if you are struggling to make ends meet. You can get support with things like the cost of gas and electric, household appliances, and energy efficiency improvements. You might still qualify for support even if you are in work.
Eligibility
Household income
You can be considered for the Household Support Fund if:
- Your total household income (including anyone who gets benefits) is below £26,057 gross pay (before tax and National Insurance) for one adult in work, or
- Your total household income (including anyone who gets benefits) is below £38,870 (before tax and National Insurance) for families with 2 or more adults in work
Income based benefits
We can also consider you for the Household Support Fund if your household gets income based benefits and meets a minimum of 1 of these criteria:
- A physical disability
- A learning disability, or Autism
- A long term health condition which is impacted by the cold
- A reliance on electrical equipment to support independent living
- Vulnerable adults or children in the home, who are supported by mental health services
- Vulnerable families who are supported by a social worker, or family support
- A vulnerable adult supported by a social worker or adult health and social care
- Children under 5
- Carers
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Have recently come off benefits and entered employment
- Have recently left employment and are waiting for benefits
- Your Universal Credit claim is nil because you are an intermittent worker, on a zero hour contract, part of the gig economy or on a variable income
You can make 1 application per household during any 6 month period, including previous schemes.
You must have less than £16,000 in savings.
Evidence you need to provide
You will need to provide evidence to support your claim. This evidence might be:
- from a GP
- a hospital letter
- the name of a support or social worker
- a Universal Credit or benefits statement
You will also have to provide evidence of all your household income for us to consider your application. As part of your application, you must upload all family members wage slips.
You must take photographs of any evidence required, showing the name and address of the household member the evidence applies to, and upload it with your application.
What happens after you have applied
Once you have submitted your application form, you will get a confirmation email. Please keep a record of the service ID number that you get in the email.
A member of our team will call you back from a generic number that starts with 01254 585***. They will ring you within 20 working days to discuss your application and offer support. Please make sure you provide the correct contact details.
Apply for the Household Support Fund
Apply for the Household Support Fund
The types of support you can get
The scheme can provide you with practical help and advice to support you with the rising costs of food, energy and other household bills.
You might be able to get help with:
• gas and electricity costs. The person who applies must be the person who pays the bill, or be named in the application and be contactable. You can only make 1 application per household in any 6 month period
• water costs. This is a one off support
• boiler inspections and energy efficiency, if you are a homeowner
• a reduction in utility bill debt
• affordable food options
• white goods and children’s beds (1 per household in any 6 month period)
• support to reduce your outgoings
• support to increase your income
• support to stay healthy and well
You might be able to get help directly from Help for Households - Get government cost of living support.
We also have information on our website about how you can get help with the rising cost of living.
We do not offer cash or shop vouchers.
Our partners
The scheme is being funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, and delivered by our Adults and prevention service, who are working in partnership with:
• Age UK
• BwD Carers
• BwD Healthy Living
• Care network
• Jubilee Tower Credit Union
• Shelter
• The Oaks
• Blackburn Food bank
• Rummage Rescuers
• CB partners (SAMS)
• Community Centres
• Adult learning and National careers service
• BwD Wellbeing service
• More Positive Together
• Lancashire Volunteering Partnership
• LSCFT Health Visitors
• Homestart
Examples of households who have received support
“I'm struggling to keep up with the cost of living at the moment and wondered if we could get any help at all. I'm currently working 2 jobs, my husband works full time we earn below £38,870. I'm struggling to put food on the table for my 3 children. Any help or advice to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.”
“I have a child who is severely asthmatic and autistic, I am struggling due to being made redundant but not receiving any redundancy pay.”
“My husband has arthritis and diabetes and we are struggling keeping up with energy bills, I pay by direct debit monthly and my fridge isn’t working.”
“I am very concerned about the rise in the cost of living including gas, electric, water, petrol and food. I have two young children to clothe and feed and this is causing me to worry about the future. I am awaiting an appointment related to my mental health which is ongoing. Any assistance that I receive would be greatly appreciated.”
“I have a mobility scooter and a stair lift and want to stay independent but my electric bill has gone through the roof.”