Help for Households

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Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund was introduced in October 2021, in order to support those most in need last winter, the first phase of the scheme ended on 31 March 2022. The second round of the fund ran until September 2022.

On 26 May 2022, the Chancellor announced, as part of a number of measures to provide help with global inflationary challenges and the significantly rising cost of living, that the Household Support Fund would be extended from 01 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The fund, provided by the Department for Work and Pensions 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) will be distributing a proportion of this funding to District Councils. LCC have confirmed that Ribble Valley will receive £120,000.

Eligible households who are struggling financially and have a household income of less than £41,718 per year can apply for a food voucher via the following on line form: https://ribblevalleygov-self.achieveservice.com/service/householdsupportfund

The following voucher amounts can be applied for:

£200 for single households
£300 for households with two or more adults residing
£500 for households with children (household with a child is a household containing any person who will be under the age of 19 at the time of award or, a person aged 19 or over in respect of whom a child-related benefit (for example, Child Benefit) is paid or FSMs are provided.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are eligible for the following government support schemes you will not be eligible to apply:

Cost of Living Payments;
One-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment (through the Winter Fuel Payment)

The scheme will run until 31 March 2023 (applications should be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday 28 March) or until the funding runs out and only one application per household will be accepted.