Household Support Fund April to September 2022
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that they are extending the Household Support Fund, see here for the announcement link Household Support Fund doubled to help most vulnerable tackle cost of living - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) As you can see from within the announcement it states: -
“Using their local knowledge, Local Authorities will determine how to best use the remainder of the fund within the scope set out by ministers. This fund is part of £22 billion of support provided in 2022-23 to help families with the cost of living and to ensure people keep more of their money.”
Staffordshire County Council have agreed to use this funding in the following ways;
- We will provide a £15.00 Voucher to children eligible for Free School Meals over the May Half Term and for two weeks over the summer holidays.
- We will provide vouchers to support our care leavers.
- We will work with our borough and district councils to target households and provide support where needed, targeting our most vulnerable households and ensuring 33.33% of the funding goes to our elderly residents. (District and Borough Councils have already provided their residents with a £150.00 council tax rebate if you reside in a band A to D property. If you have not received this please contact your local District / Borough Council.)
- Provide additional funding to enable the Staffordshire Warmer Homes Scheme Staffordshire Warmer Homes - Warm Homes Scheme
If you would like more information on how Staffordshire County Council will use this funding, please click on the link - Cabinet Report (staffordshire.gov.uk)
There is also a range of other support for people in need of help and support including;
- Staffordshire County Council Entitled To – Benefits calculator, you can use this tool to ensure you are claiming for all benefits that you are entitled to Entitled To - Benefit calculator - Staffordshire County Council
- The Trussell Trust Find a Food Bank, the Trussell Trust is one of the largest food bank distributors within Staffordshire - Find a Food Bank - The Trussell Trust
- Citizens Advice Search for your local Citizens Advice - Citizens Advice
- Gov.UK Private renting advice for rent arrears - Private renting: Rent arrears - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Cooking for a family on a budget - Family Hub Cooking | Staffordshire Connects
- Staffordshire Connects – This website can help you find help and support locally. If you click on Children and Families, it will then take you to the main navigation page where you can select the area of choice. You may want to search for things to do with your children, help with budgeting and local food banks. There are also the Family Support providers who can help you 1:1 with support if you feel this is beneficial. Staffordshire Connects
- Below are links to our Family Hub social media pages, if you would like to like and follow your local Family Hub as we use this platform to advertise any funding that can be applied for direct by families as and when it comes available.
Cannock Chase Family Hub
East Staffordshire Family Hub
Lichfield Family Hub
Newcastle Family Hub
South Staffordshire Family Hub
Stafford Family Hub
Staffordshire Moorlands Family Hub
Tamworth Family Hub
UPDATE: - Staffordshire County Council has received a further allocation of funding that is to run until April 2023. We will update this page in due course with any further arrangements made.