Households across six districts in the West Midlands are being encouraged to apply for up to £500 in free financial support before the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme closes. This fund aims to help low-income families and vulnerable individuals cope with rising living costs, especially energy bills.
The HSF, a £742 million government fund, has been extended multiple times and will run through to March 2026. Each council in England receives an allocation to distribute to residents in financial hardship.
In Worcestershire, residents of Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon, Bromsgrove, Redditch, and Wyre Forest Districts can still apply for this vital support. Households with children under 18, or young adults up to 21 in full-time education, may qualify for up to £500 in energy assistance or vouchers. Other households without children may receive up to £300.
READ MORE: Six Major Driving Changes Coming in March: From Petrol Stations to Pay-Per-Mile Fees
READ MORE: UK Drivers Brace for Record Petrol Prices Amid Middle East Tensions
To qualify, applicants must live in one of these districts and have a gross household income of £24,570 or less annually (if single with no children), or under £31,000 for other household types, excluding benefits. Additionally, applicants must have no household savings and either be recipients of DWP benefits, state pensioners, or have children under four years old.
The Household Support Fund has become a critical lifeline since the abolition of the discretionary social fund in 2013, which dismantled England’s local welfare safety nets. Organizations like Hereford Food Bank rely heavily on the HSF; last year, a grant of £84,000 from the fund helped the food bank provide 2,300 food parcels, feeding nearly 5,000 people, including 1,700 children. With demand growing and donations decreasing, the HSF has proved essential in preventing such organizations from operating at a loss.
Helen Parker, manager of the Hereford Food Bank, called the fund “a godsend” and credits it with keeping their services running during challenging times.