Help for Households

Funded by the Department of Work and Pension the Household Support Fund was introduced in October 2021, in order to support those most in at last winter, the first phase of the scheme ended on 31 March 2022. The second round of the fund ran until September 2022 and the third round ran until March 2023.

On 17 November 2022 in the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced, as part of several measures to provide help with global inflationary challenges and the significantly rising cost of living, that the Household Support Fund (HSF4) would be extended from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 with a further £842m of funding. The fund is distributed to Unitary and County Councils. The Department for Work and Pensions has recently confirmed that Lancashire County Council (LCC) will be given £9.6 million to support those most in need to help with significantly rising living costs. Lancashire County Council (LCC) have distributed a proportion of this funding to District Councils. LCC have confirmed that Ribble Valley will receive £240,000.

The first round of applications into this fund closed on the 1 September 2023. Policy and Finance Committee have agreed to open a second round of applications for households who have not benefitted from a voucher during round one of HSF4. The applications will open on 2nd October and run until 1st December 2023. Further details will be published here in due course.

Please do not telephone to enquire about the fund, if you have any queries please email householdsupportfund@ribblevalley.gov.uk

Full details of support available to help with the cost of living can be found at https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living

Debt and Cost of Living Advisor

Ribble Valley Borough Council has appointed a debt and cost of living advisor as part of its ongoing commitment to its Household Support Fund (HSF) programme.

Aimed at providing help for residents with inflationary changes and the ongoing significant rising cost of living, the Council are now strengthening the HSF service via the appointment of a debt and cost of living advisor to both assist residents who wish to apply for the HSF fund and to help residents who feel they may need additional support and benefit advice.

The service is open to anyone who lives or works in Ribble Valley.  The debt and cost of living advisor will be available on Wednesday afternoons, and all-day on Thursdays and Fridays.  Contact and appointments can be made via the customer services team by telephone on 01200 425111.