Household Support Fund 2024: Everything you need to know about the scheme

What is the Household Support Fund and who qualifies for payments? Our jobs and finance specialist, Alex Nelson, has everything you need to know.

Transcript

00:00Thousands of households across the UK could find themselves eligible for financial assistance

00:05through the Government's Household Support Fund in the next few months.

00:09But what exactly is the Household Support Fund, and how does it work?

00:13I'm Alex, Jobs and Finance Specialist with National World, and here's everything you need to know.

00:18The Household Support Fund was introduced by the Government as a response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

00:24It was announced in March 2021 by Rishi Sunak, who was, at the time, Chancellor of the Exchequer,

00:30but it's been extended multiple times in the years since in response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

00:35The fund aims to provide assistance to households facing financial hardship,

00:40and is designed to help with essential costs such as food, energy bills and other daily necessities.

00:45Funds are divided up among local councils, with more being given to authorities that may oversee areas with a larger population

00:52or have a greater number of vulnerable households.

00:55It's then those councils that decide how the money is handed out to residents,

00:59which means different household support schemes can work in different ways.

01:03For instance, one council may offer direct bank account payments to those receiving other forms of benefits,

01:08while another might give out food vouchers to families during the school holidays.

01:12Eligibility criteria differs among councils too, so to check what support is available in your area,

01:18and whether you qualify, the best bet is to check your local council's website, or get in touch with them directly over the phone.

01:24While the fund has been extended in the past, it's unclear whether it will be lengthened again past its current September 2024 cut-off date.

01:31We'll have to wait until the next government budget to find that out, but that shouldn't be too far away.