Household Support scheme

The scheme will be run by the Council and local partners. It will help residents of Blackburn with Darwen to get food, support with energy and water bills, and other essential items.

The Government’s Department for Work and Pensions is funding the scheme and has announced the scheme will be further extended from 1st October 22 to help with the rising cost of living.

There have been significant changes to the Household Support Scheme eligibility criteria from 1 October 2022

For households not on income related benefits. One application per household.

Household support may be available for:

• Blackburn with Darwen residents, children, families and adults
• Single income household with a total annual household income below £23,267
• Households with a total annual income below £34,904

We may ask you about your savings. Savings must be below £16,000

You must be able to provide evidence of your total household income in the form of wage slips and bank statements, showing your name and address and upload these to your application.

If you have applied previously under the criteria “Income related benefits” you will not be eligible to apply again as of 1 October 22.

If you have recently applied for any income based benefits and will not receive any Cost of Living Payments, claims processed after 25 May 22 you may be eligible for Household support.

The funding is aimed at households who will not receive financial support under any schemes as listed below.

Cost of living payments

• £650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for those on means tested benefits
• £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment

Please check Gov website for information on payment dates

Household support can;

• Help with food
• Help with Utility bills (Gas/Electric/Water) offering a 1 off payment (includes customers on pre-payment meters, direct debit payments and annual bill payers)
• Boiler servicing, repair and replacement in owner occupied homes* subject to assessment by a qualified gas heating engineer as part of the Healthy Homes service.
• Advice and support to reduce outgoings and increase income
• Children’s beds
• Support for sustainable impact on energy costs (insulating hot water tanks, fitting draft excluders, replacing inefficient lightbulbs
• Purchasing White Goods (Fridge/Freezer/Cooker etc) 1 white good item per household based on all applications received from the household since 1 December 2021.
• Digital access and Broadband advice
• Help to improve health and well-being

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Household Support Scheme, you can still complete the form and the Help Hub team will offer be able to advice or see Self help additional support.

These include:

• Age UK
• BwD Healthy Living
• Rummage Rescuers
• Jubilee Tower Credit Union
• Care Network
• BwD Home Start
• BwD Carers Service
• Shelter
• Blackburn Foodbank & The Oaks
• BwD Community Centres
• Darwen Food Larder
• BwD Food Clubs

To see if you qualify for support, you will need to complete the online referral form.

You can self-refer or alternatively, you can be referred by a family member, friend, neighbour, professional, school, or a community group.

Awards under this scheme may be taxable, but will not be subject to National Insurance contributions. You must make your own enquiries to establish your tax position, we will not take responsibility for your tax liabilities. We will make HMRC aware of all payments made to individuals.

Apply for Household support

Before applying for the scheme, you will need a MyBwD account.

Watch a tutorial on how to create an account if you do not have one.

You will need to provide evidence of your total household income with your application- wage slip, bank statement, these must clearly show your name and address for each adult in your home.

Once you have submitted your application, we will contact you within 20 working days (raised from 10 due to the current high level of demand). Please do not re-submit your application.

Apply for the Household Support Scheme