Funding has been allocated via the Department of Work and Pensions to help those families who are struggling financially in Surrey.
Financial assistance will be available for food, fuel, water and other essentials, and will be distributed via organisations within the county who become aware of those families that are in financial crisis.
Funding from April 2024 to September 2024
Money from the Household Support Fund will be distributed by organisations as outlined below. It is not something individuals can apply for directly for themselves.
The latest round of UK Government Funded Household Support Fund has been announced. The funding is allocated via the Department of Work and Pensions to help those families who are struggling financially in Surrey. The fifth round of funding for Surrey runs from April 2024 until September 2024 and amounts to £5.3 million.
How the latest funding of £5.3 million will be allocated:
- Approximately £2.5m of the fund will be used to enable the continued provision of food vouchers to eligible children over the half term break in May and over the Summer school holidays.
- £34,000 will be allocated to provide Energy Support for Care Leavers.
- Surrey Crisis Fund will receive additional support of £100,000. See our webpage about the Surrey Crisis Fund.
- Over £300,000 will be provided to support food banks, community fridges and food clubs. Visit the Connect To Support Surrey website and search 'Food banks' for information on food banks in your area.
- £435,000 will fund advice services via Citizens Advice, to help ensure residents are maximising their income effectively. Their website can be found here Citizen's Advice.
The county council is also distributing £280,000 of the Household Support Fund through some specific county wide charities to proactively try and reach as many people in need as possible, particularly targeting those charities that work with vulnerable or less well served communities. These are:
- Action For Carers will actively support carers. Many carers cannot work due to obvious care duties and find themselves in situations of poverty. More information on the work they do can be found on the Action For Carers website.
- Age UK Surrey is a local charity which helps people aged over 50+ to make the most of their life. Specifically they have supported the reach and delivery of funds to older people as the take up of funds by older people is low. More information on the work they do can be found on the Age UK Surrey - Information and Advice website.
- I Choose Freedom is a charity that provides a path to freedom for survivors of domestic abuse and will be giving assistance to those living in, or recently leaving, refuge. More information on the work they do can be found on the I Choose Freedom website.
- Stripey Stork is a baby bank that will work with us to deliver support to families in need, with items such as warm clothing, blankets and school uniforms. More information on the work they do can be found on the Stripey Stork website.
- Surrey Coalition of Disabled People will target support via their networks and members to reach people with disabilities. More information on the work they do can be found on the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People website.
- Surrey Community Action will work through their existing 'Fuel Poverty Project' to support hundreds of people through their partners and networks including foodbanks and National Energy Action groups. More information on the work they do can be found on the Surrey Community Action website.
- Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum will be utilising their minority ethnic network member organisations to reach those communities and vulnerable households that otherwise may not access forms of support. More information on the work they do can be found on the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum website.
- Transform Housing will be supporting young people on the cusp of adulthood, these young people often don't have access to support available to families. More information on the work they do can be found on the Transform Housing website.
The remainder will be distributed via district and borough councils who will operate their own local application schemes.
Check that you are maximising your finances
As there is uncertainty around whether the UK Government Funded Household Support Fund will continue past September 2024, we want to ensure that everyone who maybe struggling financially is getting the benefits, tax credits and financial support they are entitled to, such as debt relief.
To talk to someone who can help you check that you are getting all the financial support you are entitled to please call the Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday except bank holidays
Find further information and guidance from the Department of Work and Pensions on getting extra payments to help with the cost of living, if you're entitled to certain benefits or tax credits.
Previous Household Support Fund Allocations
The Household Support Fund has been funded by UK Government since 2021 to help with the rising costs of living. There have been four allocations made to Surrey County Council up until March 2024 totalling £26,454,148.61. The fifth round of funding announced on 1 April 2024 will be available until September 2024.
Funds from the Household Support Fund have been distributed to organisations across Surrey to help those families who are struggling financially, providing financial assistance for food, fuel, water and other essentials. The funds are distributed via a range of methods including via community partners and District and Borough councils to ensure it reaches as many people in need as possible.
To find out how the last round of £10.6m available between April 2023 and March 2024 was allocated you can read this Surrey News press release Surrey allocated £10.6m funding from the Household Support Fund | Surrey News (surreycc.gov.uk)