Overview

• Birmingham City Council opened its summer HSF scheme on June 1, offering £200 grants to households without a payment in the last 12 months.
• Hull City Council will channel its £5.3 million HSF allocation towards pensioners and financially strained residents struggling with food and energy costs.
• The Department for Work and Pensions has allocated a total of £742 million to English councils, extending support through March 2026.
• Applicants must prove financial hardship, provide residency and bank details and may face fraud checks, with payments made directly into bank accounts.
• Leeds will issue winter payments of up to £150 for Council Tax Support recipients and East Riding and York councils will dispense discretionary grants up to £425 for urgent bills.