Overview
- The DWP’s £742 million Household Support Fund runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, with all spending or committed awards required by 31 March.
- Government guidance confirms that vouchers bought and delivered before the end date may be redeemed shortly after, and that HSF support does not affect DWP or HMRC benefits.
- Councils decide how to use their allocations, so eligibility, application routes and award types differ by area, often with tight quotas and referral-only processes.
- Portsmouth is taking applications for utilities help until 12 noon on 29 January, offering £150 for single-adult households and £200 for couples or families subject to specific criteria and income caps.
- Current local offers include Birmingham hardship grants up to £200, Middlesbrough £70 per child vouchers tied to free school meals criteria, and Telford & Wrekin £85 supermarket vouchers for some pension-age residents.