Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's government recently made an announcement that should bring much-needed relief to thousands of struggling households across the UK.
A £421 million support programme, Household Support Fund, is now available to local councils across England to ease the cost of living strain of the most vulnerable families and individuals.
In his Spring Statement and Budget announcement, Hunt said: "Our priority is to support those most in need. This fund should provide essential help in these difficult times."
What the Household Support Fund Covers
This Household Support Fund scheme is meant to cover a range of costs, including:
- Food
- Home essentials
- School uniforms
- Housing costs
However, this fund is not available to cover mortgage payments.
Local authorities are responsible for distributing the funds. Medway Council, in the south-east of England, is at the forefront of this initiative and has started accepting applications.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for household support, you need to meet the following conditions. The following conditions must be met in order to be considered eligible for assistance from Medway Council:
- You must be a resident of Medway.
- You must be aged 16 or over.
- You must be in demonstrable financial hardship.
- You must have less than £500 in your bank account.
- You should not have access to any other funds that can be relied on to meet the needs for which you are applying.
For each household, the payment is determined according to the number of people in the household:
- Single person: £65
- Two people: £85
- Three people: £115
- Four people: £155
- Five people: £190
- Six or more people: £225
Further financial assistance is also available, such as a £100 grant to purchase a school uniform for each dependent child of school age. An additional £36 voucher from the Fuel Bank Foundation to help avoid utility cuts.
For people requiring assistance with energy costs, the fund provides a £100 electronic energy card. Alternatively, water help is available in the form of a £100 e-voucher.
How to Apply
To claim the Medway Council Household Support Fund, you can apply online. The information required to apply is as follows:
- Personal information (name, address, and date of birth).
- Contact details.
- Income and expenditure details, along with bank statements for all household members.
- National Insurance number.
- Household details, including those of the people you live with.
- A bank statement confirming that you have less than £500 in your bank account.
To apply, simply log on to the official website and click on the ‘Apply for Support’ tab. The procedure is simple and user-friendly, allowing eligible households to access these funds without too much difficulty.