Household Support Fund: help with food and bills via your council

If you cannot cover the essentials, beyond ordinary benefits there is targeted help through your local council — the Household Support Fund.

What is the fund?

The Household Support Fund is government money distributed by local councils in England to help people on low incomes or in hardship. For the current period (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026), councils in England were allocated £742 million. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own schemes.

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What can you get help with?

The fund helps with basics: food, energy and water bills, clothing and other essentials. Councils also use it for specific costs such as key appliances or school uniforms. Help is usually a one-off and modest, in cash or as vouchers.

How do you get it?

There is no single national application — help is arranged through your local council, each with its own rules, forms and deadlines until the budget runs out. Find your council and its cost-of-living help page through the postcode tool on GOV.UK.

What should you keep in mind?

The fund's budget is limited, so it is best to apply early. The Household Support Fund does not replace ongoing benefits — it tops them up. If your difficulties are not one-off, also check what you can get on a regular basis: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, a Council Tax reduction, and housing help (including a Discretionary Housing Payment). Citizens Advice, for example, can help you work it all out for free.

How do you find help in your area?

There is no single England-wide form: each council decides who to help and how from its share of the fund. Go to your council's website (find it by postcode through the GOV.UK tool) and the cost-of-living or Household Support Fund section. Some give help on application, others through schools, social services or food banks. Rules and deadlines differ and budgets are limited, so apply early.

What else to check if money is short?

The Household Support Fund is one-off support, not a regular income. If your difficulties are ongoing, also check regular help: Universal Credit or Pension Credit, a Council Tax reduction, housing help (Housing Benefit, a Discretionary Housing Payment), and energy suppliers' tariffs and hardship funds for people in debt. Citizens Advice can help you work it out and apply for free. Beware scams: a council will not ask for your card details "to send help" by phone or message.