Household Support Fund

The Government has provided additional funding, known as the Household Support Fund, to help with important things like gas, electricity and food during October 2024 to March 2025.

This funding will be used in the following ways:

Help with food costs for low income households

Eligible households do not need to apply for these vouchers. They will be issued automatically. 

Please allow up to 7 days for the voucher to arrive.

Full instructions on how redeem the voucher will be included in the letter. Once the voucher has been redeemed, it doesn’t have to be spent all at once. It can be used several times until the entire amount has been spent.

Please note that receipt of these vouchers will not affect entitlement to any other benefits you may be receiving.

SCAM WARNING!

We are aware that fraudsters are sending text messages or e-mails to residents to advise them they are entitled to a Household Support Fund payment and that they need to provide their bank details in order to receive their payment. Please ignore any messages you receive that may be similar to this. These vouchers are always issued by letter and you do not need to provide your bank account details in order to use them. Wakefield Council will not ask you for your bank details by text or e-mail.

What else will the Fund will cover?

The Fund will also provide support to vulnerable households in most need of support to help with significantly rising living costs; particularly those who may not have received any other forms of Cost-of- Living support. 

If you are struggling with the increase in the cost of living, the Fund can help you with:

• food and housekeeping (including toiletries, baby essentials, etc)
• other essential bills (mobile phones, top-ups, broadband charge, etc)
• gas and electricity
• clothing - including school uniforms
• essential white goods
• beds and bedding package
• carpets - limited choice will be available

Please note the Fund is not a cash provision and any help with water or phone bills will be by way of a supermarket voucher so that the money you normally spend on food can be put towards these bills. Gas and electric help will be by way of pre-payment top-up vouchers or an energy card for people who pay by direct debit or other means.

Any help that you receive from the Fund will not affect entitlement to any other benefits you may be receiving.

What the Fund will not cover

• cash payments
• mortgage costs
• rent or housing arrears
• non-urgent items such as new furniture and TVs
• debt repayments including loans and credit cards

Who can apply

To apply you must:

• live in the Wakefield district
• be over the age of 16 and not living with family or friends
• be responsible for the rent/mortgage and other bills for your home
• not have sufficient money to pay your essential bills (please note that expenditure choices may be taken into account prior to any awards being made)
• be on a low income
• if you have no recourse to public funds, you are still eligible to apply - we may be able to support you regardless

Who can’t apply 

You can’t apply if you have savings over the value of £6,000 (proof of savings under £6,000 will be required).

IMPORTANT  - You can only make one application.

How to apply for HSF

Click on the link which will take you to the form and the guidance on what is needed to make an application.

Additional funding has also been provided to support residents who need support in times of emergency or crisis.

For more information on how to apply for this support, visit our Local Welfare Provision webpage.

You can also find more information about other help that may be available to you on the Government's Cost of Living Hub webpage.