What the Household Support Fund is.
The Household Support Fund is money from the government that we use to help low-income households with food and fuel poverty.
The funding has been extended to the end of March 2024.
How the money will be allocated
Some of the funding has been given to the organisations listed below.
There's funding still to be allocated. A decision on this will be taken around October 2023, and then we'll update this page.
Free school meal vouchers
Free school meal vouchers will be provided for free school meal and Pupil Premium children during May half-term, summer, Christmas and February half-term.
Vouchers will be sent from the school by email, contact your school directly if you do not receive it.
Care leavers and foster households
Support is available for care leavers and foster households to assist with their food and heating costs. We will contact them directly.
Charities
Money is also being allocated to Feeding Bristol, Red Cross, Bristol Age UK, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and WECIL.
These organisations will contact you directly if you're eligible.
Low-income pensioners
Earlier this year, the government provided funding to assist households receiving partial Council Tax Reduction.
People of state pension age receiving partial Council Tax Reduction will have up to an additional £25 taken off their council tax bills.
If you do not receive any of the above or still need help
If you need financial support, you can still benefit from this fund. You can:
- apply for an emergency payment from the Local Crisis Prevention Fund (if you are aged 16 or older and live in Bristol, and are in financial crisis and need help with essential day to day living expenses)
- apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (if you get Housing Benefit or the Housing Element of Universal Credit and need extra help for housing costs)
- get cost of living advice
You can also get help with money and debt problems and find out if you can claim benefits.