Where Authorities are working with TPOs, this should be done on an objectively fair, transparent and non-discriminatory basis whilst having regard to the time available to deliver The Fund. In Peterborough. The fund has been extended to 31 March 2023 with an additional 500 million of funding which will be used by local authorities to support vulnerable households. Authorities should ensure that they consider the needs of various households including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people. In exceptional cases of genuine emergency, where existing housing support schemes do not meet this exceptional need, the Fund can be used to support housing costs. We expect Authorities to review any existing approach and to have a strong rationale for their targeting so that funding is available to the households who most need it. A final MI return is required by 28 April 2023 showing total spend from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. The breakdown of the award is detailed below. The guidance for completion is provided on a separate tab within the MI template. This cell will automatically populate from the figures in rows a and b. However, when an LA chooses to use all or part of this funding for an application-based process, they must make sure that this support is clearly advertised to residents. Funding will be used primarily to support households with essentials costs related to food, energy and water bills. . For example, households with children and pensioners; food, energy bills, essentials linked to food and energy bills, wider essentials and (in exceptional circumstances) housing support. Authorities may find this information useful in identifying those most in need. Every area must operate at least part of their scheme on an application basis. If we respond requesting further information, you must respond to us within 5 days or your application will be closed. 84. The Wokingham Household Support Fund is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and administered by Wokingham Borough Council. The Fund can be used to support wider essential needs not linked to energy and water should Authorities consider this appropriate in their area. Some of the funding will be set aside for applicants who come directly to the council for assistance. This funding covers the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 inclusive. For the purpose of the reporting requirements for this grant (and without prejudice to other schemes): a person aged 19 or over in respect of whom a child-related benefit (for example, Child Benefit) is paid or FSMs are provided. Administration costs for each Authority will be published on www.gov.uk alongside detail of all spend and volumes related to The Fund. For example, any application process should be easy to access and to navigate. For funding during 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 the criteria are the same as before. Where Authorities decide to deliver support to vulnerable households through TPOs they should use whatever information the TPO holds, or other available data, to split the level of spend and volume of awards across the eligibility criteria to the best of their ability. Phone: 01902 551166. 99. The application form will close 22nd December pm and re-open 3rd January am. Facilities grants can range from minor works such as installing ramps to major works such as extensions (up to a maximum of 30,000). Where eligible, ongoing housing support for rent must be provided through the Housing cost element of, In exceptional cases of genuine emergency, households in receipt of. This will ensure that there is no National Insurance contribution liability payable on any payments by either the citizen, the Authority or employer. If. At the end of the The Fund we will also ask for a summary of spend against the final delivery plan with this due at the same time as the final MI in April 2023. It is the amount that will be used to determine the grant funding payment from DWP to cover the full cost of administering the grant in an Authority area. Popular names for this fund also include; Welfare Assistance Scheme. So, for example, ensuring all charities are registered and taking extra caution if they are new organisations. Where can vouchers be used? 57. When deciding how to help people, Authorities should consider: 18. Local Welfare Assistance. Individuals in receipt of some other form of housing support could still qualify for the other elements of The Fund, such as food, energy, water, essentials linked to energy and water and wider essentials. This may include, but is not limited to, people who are entitled to but not claiming qualifying benefits, people who are claiming Housing Benefit (HB) only, people who begin a claim or return to payment of a benefit after the relevant qualifying date as well as people who have fuel costs but who cannot access the 400 of energy support from the Energy Bill Support Scheme or the equivalence package confirmed on 29 July 2022. 112. The Household Support Fund was distributed by councils in England to directly help those who needed it most. Fraudsters can target funds of this type. Both an interim and a final MI return will be required and grant payments will be made in respect of the periods 1 October 2022 to 31 December 2022 and 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. LAs should consider how they could use this data to provide support to this group. Families with. 55. Authorities are asked to report and manage spend in relation to all of these areas. Total amount provided to vulnerable households this is the total amount of The Fund that has been paid or awarded to vulnerable households. Authorities who have signed and returned the relevant section (Annex C) of the current DWP/LA MoU have legal permission to access DWPs Searchlight portal and specific UC, Pension Credit, ESA (IR) and HB only data through a monthly data share for the purpose of The Fund. Application Form. We are only accepting applications for this round of Household Support Fund via the below online form. the total amount you have paid will be the same across the four tables. For the purpose of The Fund committed spend relates to grant funding that has been spent and delivered to vulnerable households even though the vulnerable household may not have used their grant funding. 117. The definition of spend includes grant funding that has been provided to vulnerable households, within the scope of the eligibility criteria, and within the period of The Fund 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. 129. In all cases, Authorities should keep administrative costs to a reasonable level. Normally households can receive only one HSF3 award via an application to either the VCS or the council. If the Authority has any grounds for suspecting financial irregularity in the use of any grant paid under this Determination, it must notify DWP immediately, explain what steps are being taken to investigate the suspicion and keep DWP informed about the progress of the investigation. It is the responsibility of Authorities to provide the MI returns to DWP. You can change your cookie settings at any time. confirm they intend to spend the total unspent amount against the same category of spend for the same group. 102. It includes amounts paid by Authorities and by TPOs on behalf of Authorities. 94. There is no requirement for Authorities to undertake a means test or conduct a benefit check unless this specifically forms part of the Authoritys local eligibility criteria. 14. Sandwell Council has. 101. Table 3: Total value of awards split by household composition. We may need the Authority to explain why that is the case and provide supporting evidence. The Household Support Fund (HSF) is provided by the Government and administered by BCP Council. The Government have announced an extension to the Household Support Fund, to cover the period from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. . Row 3 refers to the number of households helped. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. The Household Support Fund application form is now live. Tables 3 to 6 ask for spend and award volumes to be recorded against four sets of criteria, one for each table. This includes the Cost of Living Payments set out on 26 May 2022 and the energy support set out on 3 February (enhanced on 26 May 2022), and detailed on 29 July 2022 (details on eligibility for these schemes are at Annex A). Under the fund, some authorities are offering 100 in free cash to families and up to 60 worth of vouchers for children's clothing while others are offering up to 120 in vouchers towards . Welfare Assistance Loans This is in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council. A recent copy (withinthe last 3 months) of the bank statement for the bank details used in your claim, this needs to be the bank account that your household bills come out of and clearly shows your name, address, account number and sort code. Note, all cells which automatically populate are shaded grey and are protected. In the Spring Statement, the Government announced 3.6 million of further funding to support vulnerable children and families and pensioners. As with District Councils, Authorities should make arrangements with any TPOs as quickly as possible. Energy Bills Support Scheme and the equivalence package confirmed on 29 July 2022, Council Tax Rebate and the associated 144 million Discretionary Fund, Cost of Living Payments for those on means tested benefits, One-off 300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment (through the Winter Fuel Payment), are eligible for but not claiming qualifying benefits, become eligible for benefits after the relevant qualifying dates, are ordinarily eligible for benefits but who had a nil award in the qualifying period due to, for example, a fluctuation in income. purchasing vouchers on a sale or return basis, so that they can return any unused vouchers, or. 1. However, it is acceptable for vouchers that have been purchased and delivered to households before the end of The Fund to be spent shortly thereafter (see paragraphs 104 to107 on committed spend). However, support is not restricted only to vulnerable households in receipt of benefits. For audit purposes where an Authority recycles and reuses expired vouchers the Authority must confirm by email to the DWP copying in the Section 151 Officer: 106. 1. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Authorities may wish to consider restricting access to these vouchers; and also consider restricting usage to ensure that they cannot be spent outside the intended scope of The Fund. 31. 63. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. If multiple awards are made to the same household throughout the period of The Fund each award should be counted separately. Authorities are therefore encouraged to explore ways in which this group may be supported and must record the total value of awards granted to disabled people in their Management Information (MI) returns for this grant (see paragraphs 64-68). Local Authority (the name of your Authority), LOCAL_AUTHORITY_CODE (the standard lookup code for your authority), TYF_LA_ID_CODE (the Transfer Your File code for your authority), For each postcode sector (POSTCODE_OUTWARD_CODE) in a ward (WARD_NAME), (WARD_CODE), Number of Households in the ward with UC Limited Capability to Work group (HAS_LCW_LATEST_AP), Number of UC households in the Authority without children (HHS_NO_CHILDREN_IN_LA), Number of UC households in the Authority with children (HHS_WITH_CHILDREN_IN_LA), Number of children in the Authority in UC households with children (NO_OF_CHILDREN_IN_LA), Number of UC households without children in the postcode sector that are below the Free School Meal income threshold and free prescription threshold (HHS_NO_CHILDREN_PRESC_OR_FSM), Number of UC households without children in the postcode sector that are below the Free Prescription income threshold (HHS_NO_CHILDREN_PRESC), Number of UC households without children in the postcode sector that are below the Free School meal income threshold (HHS_NO_CHILDREN_FSM), Number of UC households with children in the postcode sector that are below the Free School Meal income threshold and free prescription threshold (HHS_WITH_CHILDREN_PRESC_OR_FSM), Number of UC households with children in the postcode sector that are below the Free Prescription income threshold (HHS_WITH_CHILDREN_PRESC), Number of UC households with children in the postcode sector that are below the Free School meal income threshold (HHS_WITH_CHILDREN_FSM), Number of children in UC households in the postcode sector that are below the Free School Meal income threshold and free prescription threshold (CHILDREN_PRESCRIPTIONS_OR_FSM), Number of children in UC households in the postcode sector that are below the Free Prescription income threshold (CHILDREN_PRESCRIPTION), Number of children in UC households in the postcode sector that are below the Free School meal income threshold (CHILDREN_FSM). Household Support Fund (HSF) The HSF grant is a one-off award that could help to buy food, gas, and electricity. 79. Opening Times: Monday to Friday 9.00am -5.00pm. By application-based support, we mean any awards made through a successful application for support made to the Authority by eligible recipients or through third parties who run self-referral support services on behalf of the Authority. 39. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. In exceptional cases of genuine emergency, it can additionally be used to support housing costs where existing housing support schemes do not meet this exceptional need. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. 52. Where Authorities (including District Councils) issue awards directly to vulnerable households they should either obtain information at source or via information or data they have access to, in order to complete the split of spend and number of awards across the reporting categories. However, committed spend does not include large volumes of food vouchers, procured quite late in The Fund, which cannot be distributed to vulnerable households within the period of The Fund. The grant was distributed through small payments to support vulnerable households meet daily needs such as food, clothing, and utilities. There is no prescriptive definition of essentials. In addition the council continues to provide additional support households should contact 0191 520 5551 in the first instance. Whichever way you use the funding, including where you work in partnership with others, you should consider all Subsidy rules (previously State Aid) issues. Authorities are expected to collect or verify information to establish whether the award is made to a household with children or a household with pensioners or a disabled person. If a claimant attempts to claim an award from the Household Support Fund by making a false declaration or providing false evidence or statements they may have committed an offence under the . Number of Households Helped: this is the number of individual households helped by The Fund within the eligibility criteria. This information is important for DWP to evaluate how successful The Fund has been in providing support to households with children. This funding will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food. The fund was extended to 30 September 2022 with an additional 500 million of funding to be used by local authorities to support vulnerable households. 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