The government has announced that the Household Support Fund, which was due to end on 31 March 2024, will be extended for a further six months.
There has been no further information since the Budget Statement on how the money should be spent by local authorities. Once we have this, we will be working on the delivery plan and will then update this page with information on how the money will be spent in Leeds.
In the meantime, the government has provided a Household Support Fund to local authorities for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
The funding will be spent in Leeds as follows:
Helping low-income households with energy and food costs
We will make a single payment of either £75 or £100 to households living in Leeds who are in receipt of Council Tax Support. Households with children and pensioner households will receive £100 and working age households without children will receive £75.
To be eligible for a payment, households must be in receipt of Council Tax Support on Monday 23 October 2023, the qualifying date. You do not need to make a claim, we will be in direct contact with anyone due to receive a payment.
We intend to make payments by the end of November 2023 and payment will be made via a Post Office voucher.
Check your eligibility for Council Tax Support and see how to make a claim.
Emergency help
Additional funding will be available to residents who need emergency support with the costs of food, energy or household items.
The Local Welfare Support Scheme is the application route for the Household Support Fund. It is an emergency scheme which provides support in a time of crisis and is restricted to one application within any 12 month period.
Find out more about the support offered by the scheme, the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Funding the voluntary and community sector
We are funding voluntary and community organisations so they can support vulnerable, low-income people with the costs of energy, food and essential household items. This includes extra funding to increase the supply of food to local food aid providers.
Funding has been given to the following organisations:
Further help and support
Find out about the support
available to help with the cost of living, including the location of food banks, warm spaces and energy support and advice.
You can
search for emergency food support available near you using the Food Aid Network map.
Further support is
available through the cost of living hub on GOV.UK external link.
