Overview

• The £742 million Household Support Fund runs from April 2025 through March 2026 and allocates support to every council in England.
• Councils including Middlesbrough and Portsmouth opened new late-July application rounds for one-off payments of up to £120 in cash and £150 in supermarket vouchers.
• Eligibility criteria vary by council but typically require local residency, responsibility for council tax, rent or mortgage, and receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.
• Funding caps and local deadlines mean households are urged to apply promptly before allocations are exhausted or windows close.
• Other authorities such as Sutton and North Somerset are also distributing support worth up to £150 or food vouchers up to £100, while Birmingham City Council will pay £200 grants this summer.