Household Support Fund 2024 (HSF2024)
HSF overview
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was put in place by the UK Government to help households that would otherwise struggle to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential living costs during the current cost-of-living challenges.
The extension to this fund, known as Household Support Fund (HSF) 2024, began on 1 April 2024 and will conclude by the 30 September 2024.
HSF 2024 closed as of 30 September 2024. New instructions for the Household Support Fund to run between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, as announced on 27 September 2024 by the Department for Work and Pensions will be launched soon.
Wiltshire Council has confirmed that it will continue to work in partnership with a number of local organisations and internal departments to distribute the £2.7 million Household Support Fund 2024 from UK Government.
Application process and how to apply
Previous funds
The previous 'Household Support Fund 4 (HSF4)' closed on 31 March 2024.
For details of previous expenditure, visit Freedom of Information frequently asked questions.
Who can apply
Local Authorities have the flexibility to identify which households are in most need of support and apply their own discretion when identifying eligibility. The expectation is that HSF should be used to support households in the most need; particularly those who may not be eligible for the other support government has recently made available but who are nevertheless in need and who require crisis support.
HSF is intended to cover a wide range of low-income households in need including:
- families with children of all ages
- pensioners
- unpaid carers
- care leavers
- households with a disability
- homeless
- Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Boater communities
As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we will also ensure there is support for those who are serving, have served, and their families where need has been identified.
How funds can be used
HSF can be used to support households with:
- energy bills for any form of fuel that is used for the purpose of domestic heating, cooking, or lighting, including oil or portable gas cylinders
- water bills including for drinking, washing, cooking, as well as for sanitary purposes and sewerage
- the cost of food
- essential costs related to energy, food and water such as warm clothing, blankets, the purchase of equipment such as fridges, freezers, ovens, slow cookers
- housing costs where existing housing support schemes do not meet this need
- support with other bills including broadband or phone bills
- essential transport-related costs such as repairing a car, buying a bicycle, or paying for fuel
Whilst immediate needs will be prioritised, councils are encouraged to use the fund to provide support that has a long-term sustainable impact, for example for the purchase of household items which will reduce bills in the long-term, beyond September 2024.
Examples of sustainable support may include kitchen appliances, efficient heating systems, courses or advice to provide support in the longer term. The fund may also be used to provide supplementary advice services, including debt and benefit advice, where appropriate.