Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund (HSF) is a government funded scheme to provide discretionary support to households who are experiencing financial hardship and struggling with the cost-of-living. Households can apply for one-off, non-repayable financial support to help with the following:

- Food / clothing / bedding / baby items

- Gas and electricity

- Essential household items

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

All applications are considered based on the following eligibility
criteria and the information provided by the applicant:

- Resident in the Wyre Forest district
- Insufficient income to afford essential living costs
- No savings

HSF is a discretionary fund, so there is no promise that an application will be successful or result in financial support being given. Applicants must clearly demonstrate they are in unintentional financial hardship and cannot afford the item(s) they are applying for help with, either due to insufficient income or circumstances outside of their control.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

The following documents are required to support an application:
 

- Proof of ID (main applicant only)
- Proof of address (main applicant only)

- Proof of financial circumstances – All adults in the household
must submit 2 months’ bank statements for all accounts in
their names
- Proof of dependents (if applicable) - UC statement showing a full breakdown of UC entitlement
including the child element / or a letter showing receipt of
child-related benefit

- Proof of new tenancy agreement or acceptance of an offer
of accommodation (if applicable)

Applications without supporting documents will not be processed. To avoid delays, we recommend that you/the applicant submits the supporting documents as soon as possible. If we do not receive these, even after sending a reminder, the application will be closed and you/the applicant will need to reapply – unfortunately this will result in the new application going to the bottom of the waiting list.

WAITING TIMES

Applications are processed on a first come first served basis; although we do prioritise some applications where appropriate. Waiting times can vary but applications usually take 3 – 4 weeks to be processed from the date we have received the supporting documents. You/the applicant will be notified of the outcome once the application has been processed.

HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION

If any help is needed with the application process, please tell us on the application form or contact us on 01562 60194.

FOR URGENT HELP

If you/the applicant are in urgent need of food or baby items –
complete our enquiry form or contact us on 0808 278 7891

If you/the applicant are in urgent need of gas or electricity,
contact your energy supplier to ask if they can help or contact our
Consumer Helpline Extra Help Unit on 0808 223 1133 (Monday to
Friday – 9am to 5pm)
 
If you receive Universal Credit, you might be eligible for a
Budgeting Advance – see here: https://www.gov.uk/universal-
credit/other-financial-support . Please note, you will have to
repay this via deductions to future benefit payments.
 
If you receive another means-tested benefit, you might be eligible
for a Budgeting Loan – see here: https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-
help-benefits/eligibility . Please note, you will have to repay this
via deductions to future benefit payments.