Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund, funded through the Department of Work and Pensions, has been extended and will be available to help households in need until March 2024.
We are using the funding to support a wide range of low-income households, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, care leavers and disabled people with food, help with energy bills and wider essential costs.
Find out more about who is eligible and how to apply for the Household Support Fund.
The funding is part of the government's response to support vulnerable households most affected by increases in the cost of living.
Find out if you are eligible for any extra support provided by the government.
Food vouchers for children entitled to free school meals
Food vouchers will be provided for free school meal/pupil premium children during the school holidays.
The vouchers are based on a minimum of £15 per week for each week of the holidays and schools are organising this direct with families who are entitled.
If you are on a low income your child may be eligible for free school meals, find out more and how to apply on our free school meals page.
Support for households with children under 5 years
Funding is available to assist families with one or more children under the age of five, facing financial difficulties. The support provided would be a one-off emergency payment voucher of £75 per household, which can be redeemed at a supermarket. If you are in need of essentials and do not have access to any other funds, this will enable you to buy food or wider essential items for your children.
To be referred for the payment voucher, please contact your health visitor, local children's centre, your child's pre-school or nursery setting, your midwife, social prescribers or CAB.
If you have accessed a voucher, you will also have the option to receive a financial 'health check' with an experienced Citizens Advice Bureau CAB advisor, to ensure that you are maximising your income, offer support with welfare benefits, housing advice, or debt and related matters.
Support from voluntary and community organisations
Local organisations are available to support local people who are struggling to pay essential bills as a result of the cost of living increases.
If you are in financial distress or hardship due to the cost of unaffordable essentials including energy bills, food and white goods, advice services and benefits checks are available.
For more information see Talk Community's Money on Your Mind.
Support for families with school-aged children
Funding will be allocated to a number of schools to support pupils that are not eligible for free school meals with a one-off supermarket voucher that can be used to buy food and other essential items relating to children and young people.
For more information email householdsupportfund@herefordshire.gov.uk
Support for pensioners on a low income
Funding is available for supermarket vouchers to support you if you are of pensionable age and on a low income.
You are eligible if you are a pensioner receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Relief but not Pension Credit and have a gross income of less than £21,000 (single person) or £28,000 (couple) and are not in receipt of means tested benefits.
If you are a pensioner receiving Pension Credit you may be eligible for support if you have not already received support through the Household Support Fund.
Find out more on the Age UK Hereford and localities website.
Where to get extra help
If you're struggling to make ends meet, visit:
Talk Community's Money on Your Mind website
Money on Your Mind provides lots of advice and guidance, including links to organisations that may be able to help you.
If you can't find what you're looking for there, email householdsupportfund@herefordshire.gov.uk
Citizens Advice Herefordshire also offer lots of support and advice. You can call them on 0344 826 9685 between 10am - 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
In an emergency
In an emergency, contact our Emergency Welfare Support service, which offers the following support for eligible people:
- Quality, second-hand goods, wherever possible via direct referrals to suppliers
- Food or vouchers
- Referrals to support organisations