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Household Support Fund
Household Support Fund (HSF) round six
A further £421 million has been made available by the government throughout England for the Household Support Fund round 6. This additional funding is for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.
This fund is now closed to new applications. Final payments have now been made and anyone who has been unsuccessful will be contacted.
Hastings Borough Council has received a share of this funding to support local households who are finding it difficult to pay for the cost of food, energy and water.
There is a limited amount of funding available. This will be distributed on a first come first served basis but with priority given to applicants who did not receive a payment in the earlier household support fund period 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024. The fund will close on 31 March 2025 or when the funds are spent, whichever comes first.
New guidance has been issued setting out how the fund should be spent. The eligibility criteria for this scheme are different to previous funds so if you haven't been eligible before, you might be now.
This fund is now closed to new applications.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must be:
- Over the age of 18 and have recourse to public funds (this means you are not subject to immigration control);
- Resident in the Hastings Borough Council area;
- Have less than £6,000 in savings and investments;
- Finding it difficult to pay for food, energy, or water.
In addition to the above, applicants:
- Must be receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and/or Universal Credit with Housing Costs, and
- Must not be eligible to receive the winter fuel payment.
Award
Support will be provided for the following:
- Energy bills for any form of fuel 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;
- Food.
For the above households will receive a one-off award of £200 for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. The award will be paid directly to the successful applicant's verified bank account.
Multiple applications
During the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 only one application per household is allowed. Any further application made by a household during this period will be refused. If a household moves to another authority, they can claim again subject to eligibility in that area.
Verification
Where the council's own verification procedures are not successful or inconclusive it may be necessary for us to request additional information or evidence to be supplied before any payment is made, for example - a bank statement or utility bill.
To make an application
This fund is now closed to new applications.
Help to apply
If you need help applying for the Household Support Fund or help accessing services online you can visit Hastings Heart's Community Info Hub at the Town Hall, Priory Meadow entrance. The opening hours are Weds - Friday 10am - 4pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.
If you are at risk of homelessness
If you are at risk of losing your home please visit the council's dedicated webpage.
Other help that may be available
You may be also eligible for support from other sources.
- The government's cost of living hub
- East Sussex County Council offer a range of help and support services
- East Sussex County Council discretionary fund
- Citizens Advice Hastings
- Brighton Housing Trust
- Southern Water support for bills
- Government Help for Households campaign
- Ofcom social broadband and phone
- 02 Databank
- Good Things Foundation national databank
- Pension Credit
- Winter fuel payment
If you need somewhere warm, you can find a map of warm spaces across Hastings and East Sussex through the Warm Welcome website.
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Benefits
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