Household Support Fund

Applications for the latest round of Household Support Fund (HSF) are now closed due to the number of applications received. The funding has all been spent. We are waiting to hear if there will be another round of funding, we will update this page when we have more information. Any applications that were made after the funding was spent will be kept until we know the details of any future schemes.

A further £421 million has been made available throughout England for the Household Support Fund. This additional funding is for the period 1 April to 30 September 2024 only.

Hastings Borough Council has received a share of this funding from East Sussex County Council 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, and this will be distributed on a first come first served basis. The fund will close on 30 September 2024 or when the funds are spent, whichever comes first.

New guidance has been issued setting out how the fund should be spent. The new guidance means that the eligibility criteria for this scheme are different to previous funds so if you haven't been eligible before, you might be now.

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, or
• Not receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and/or Universal Credit with Housing Costs, but liable to pay for Rent, Council Tax or a Mortgage*.

*In these circumstances applicants will be required to complete a separate Income, Savings, Investments and Expenditure check. Applicants will also be required to provide sufficient documentation to the council to evidence their financial circumstances before any award can be considered.

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 £150 for the period 1 April to 30 September 2024. The award will be paid directly to the successful applicant's bank account.

Multiple applications

During the period 1 April to 30 September 2024 only one application per household is allowed. Any further application made by a household during this period will not be considered. 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.

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

If you need somewhere warm, you can find a map of warm spaces across Hastings and East Sussex through the Warm Welcome website.