Overview
- The £742 million DWP Household Support Fund runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, with guidance stating all support must be spent or committed by 31 March and unspent money cannot be carried forward.
- Government guidance confirms HSF awards do not reduce existing benefit entitlements for people receiving DWP or HMRC benefits.
- Portsmouth is offering £150 for single adults or £200 for couples and families toward energy and water bills, with online applications due by 12 noon on 29 January and a warning the scheme may close early if funds are exhausted.
- In January, Birmingham is paying up to £200 hardship grants for essentials via BVSC, Telford & Wrekin is issuing £85 supermarket vouchers to pension-age households, and Derbyshire has provided £110 Post Office vouchers to eligible pensioners with further grocery vouchers for children this month.
- Targeted local support also includes Middlesbrough £70-per-child vouchers, Stockton-on-Tees two £60 vouchers for pensioner households in early January, City of York £100 one-off payments for residents on council tax support, and Leicestershire referral-only supermarket vouchers.