Birmingham City Council will reopen applications for its Household Support Fund this June
Eligible residents may receive direct financial aid as part of government-backed local council schemes
The UK Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) is set to continue through the summer of 2025, providing targeted financial relief to vulnerable households amid rising living costs.
Administered by local councils, this initiative is designed to help families and individuals facing economic hardship, particularly those struggling to meet basic needs such as food and energy.
In Birmingham, one of the largest local authorities in the country, £200 summer grants will once again be made available under the scheme.
The Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), which collaborates with the city council on grant distribution, has confirmed the application window will reopen in June 2025, marking a new round of support for those who have not received aid in the past 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria and Distribution Approach Vary by Council
The Household Support Fund, originally introduced in 2021, channels government funding through individual local authorities, allowing them to shape support programmes based on local needs. According to the UK Government, councils are responsible for deciding the format of assistance, which may include cash grants, food vouchers or energy bill payments.
In the case of Birmingham City Council, direct cash payments of £200 will be offered to qualifying applicants. The BVSC clarified that households not currently on the waiting list — and that have not received similar grants within the last 12 months — will be able to submit new enquiries when the application window reopens.
According to the update from BVSC: “If you are not currently on the waiting list, and it has now been 12 months since your household last received a grant payment, you will be able to submit a new enquiry once the scheme reopens in June 2025.”
This council-led method differs from region to region. Some authorities provide ongoing rolling applications, while others operate on fixed rounds with specific open and close dates. Full information, including how to apply, is typically listed on each council’s official website under their Household Support Fund sections.
Support Not Limited to Benefits Claimants
Unlike other government assistance programmes, the HSF is not exclusively tied to welfare benefit status. Instead, it focuses on evidence of financial hardship, broadening access to a wider demographic.
Applicants are generally required to demonstrate they are experiencing difficulty in affording essential living costs.
This distinction means that working families, pensioners, and carers, among others, may be eligible even if they are not currently receiving Universal Credit or other DWP-administered benefits.
Nevertheless, the HSF is not unlimited, and funding allocations may be restricted depending on the number of applicants and total budget available.
