Household Support Fund (HHSF)

Applications have been temporarily halted at Leicestershire County Council due to high demand. We will advise the recommencement date when we have been advised of it. Please check back here in the new year. 

Please note that NWLDC only complete the applications for the vouchers. The vouchers themselves are issued through Leicestershire County Council, who have advised us on 27th November 2024 of the following:

Due to the unprecedented demand for support during this cycle of the Household Support Fund we are pausing the scheme to new applications from 5pm on Friday 29th November 2024. 

This will ensure that we are able to process and issue vouchers in time for Christmas to all applications received.

We hope to reopen for applications early in the new year and further information on this will be provided in due course on our website.

Due to the demand, we currently have some delays in processing applications. We are working through applications as quickly as possible, however we are currently working 20 days from submission to processing and we will NOT be able to respond to enquiries regarding the progress of applications.

Fund information: 

• This funding is only for those who cannot afford their essential expenditure and have no savings. We are required to assess your eligibility. We will do this by way of an online form and by receipt of all the supporting documentation that we ask for. If you do not provide all of the information that we ask for, we will not be able to assess your eligibility and cannot submit an application. 
• There will be no waiting list, you will need to complete the form. 
• The fund can be closed at any time when the funding runs out - without warning.

The support available:

Food vouchers

• Households with children - £20 per adult per week, £15 per child per week (for maximum of 2 weeks)
• Single households - £25  per week (for maximum of 2 weeks)
• Multiple adult households - £20 per adult per week (for maximum of 2 weeks)

Fuel vouchers

• Family household - £98
• Single household - £56
• Assistance of £200 towards utililty arrears may also be available - we must see evidence of the arrears to be able to include this in your application.
• £100 for those using calor gas.
• £300 for alternative fuels (heating oil, sold fuel etc). This funding is only available once per year.

Restrictions to the grant

The grant is not:

• Intended to cover payment of rent or other housing costs
• To be used for general advice on managing debt and/or finances

Only ONE application per household per funding round can be considered.

Full details on the support available and any restrictions available in the Household Support Fund Policy.

Eligibility 

We recognise that all households may be suffering hardship due to the cost of living crisis and we are looking to provide support from the Household Support Fund to any household that meets its criteria. 

We are required to check your eligibility. We do this by asking all applicants to complete the 'register your interest' form at the bottom of this page. This will capture your income, expenditure, and capital balances. Should you qualify, we will telephone you to make a formal application. Should you not qualify, we will email you advising of our decision.

Families that have received Free School Meal (FSM) vouchers may also require support with fuel or other utility costs. Those who may be eligible might include: 

• Families with vulnerable children aged 0-5 or that may not qualify for FSM that are known to social workers and Children and Family Wellbeing Service, but are not accessing FEEE 
• Vulnerable families with or without children 
• Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people  
• Gypsy, traveller or show persons and other vehicle dwelling communities 

Criteria

Applications must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• The applicant must be a resident of North West Leicestershire over 16 years old  
• A family/household with or without children who are experiencing financial hardship, which means that they are struggling to feed their family, to heat their home, or with other household/utility costs etc  
• Had their and/or their children’s identity verified by the professional submitting the application, for example, by using a form of photo ID (confirming the lead claimant’s identity) e.g., driving licence, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate.  
• Had their pensionable age verified by the professional submitting the application, for example by using a form of photo ID (confirming the lead claimant’s identity) e.g., driving licence, passport, birth certificate.  
• Had their proof of address verified by the professional (confirming their residence) e.g., benefits letter, bank statement, utility bill, Council Tax bill. If homeless confirmation that they are currently homeless in Leicestershire (from a professional)  
• Eligibility confirmed by the suitable professional making the application. Evidence of financial hardship could include but is not limited to: difficulties and/or arrears due to inflationary energy costs those who have been made redundant and have not yet received universal credit, or other loss of household income.  

The fund is run through Leicestershire County Council but they do not take applications themselves. If you would like to make an application you would need to speak to any of the referring professionals, such as ourselves, schools, Citizens Advice and food banks.

Other forms of support through the Household Support Fund 

Food vouchers for families with pupils eligible for Free School meals  

Vouchers will be provided to the parents/carers of all pupils who are eligible for FSM. These will be distributed through schools.