The Government has extended the Household Support Fund for a further year from April 2025 to March 2026.
We are currently reviewing options based on the guidance received from the Department for Work and Pensions. We will announce further details as soon as we are able.
Household Support Fund October 2024 to March 2025
The Household Support Fund is money given to councils by the government to help people in need of financial support. The grant is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. You can visit the government's Cost of Living Hub .
The government has confirmed that Sandwell has been allocated more than £3.4million for the period up to March 2025.
This funding will help us to support people in Sandwell most affected during these difficult times. This includes:
- a £200 payment for nearly 4,000 pensioners on low incomes who won’t receive a Winter Fuel Payment (those who receive Council Tax reduction but not Pension Credit). This payment will be sent to eligible households in a letter from the end of December that can be cashed at a Post Office. Find out more about these payments.
- providing families eligible for free school meals with vouchers in December to support them at what we know is often the most challenging financial period of the year for many households. Find out more about these vouchers.
- continuing to provide Welcoming Spaces across Sandwell
- financially supporting food banks, food pantries, foster carers, special guardians and care leavers
- extending our Holiday Activities and Food programme
- financially supporting council tenants and private tenants who are struggling with the cost of living and funding discretionary payments for people struggling to pay their Council Tax bill.
There’s no need to apply for the majority of the Household Support Funding mentioned above – payments will be made automatically to eligible households.
If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax bill, you can find out more about the assistance available and how to get in touch .
If you are experiencing exceptional financial hardship, applications for crisis payments can be made to the Local Welfare Provision Scheme .
The funding is limited by the Department for Work and Pensions. Once the fund has been exhausted, no further awards can be made.
