Household Support Fund

Money to help if you're struggling with food, bills or energy costs

The Household Support Fund is designed to help you if you are struggling with food, bills, or energy costs. UK Government funding has been allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions, to be administered by the local authority against set rules, with the previous round of funding having closed in March 2025.

As with previous rounds, the council continues to work in partnership with the Hardship Alliance to manage and allocate the fund. The Alliance is a group of local charities working with the Council - Citizens Advice Wokingham, First Days Children’s Charity, Age UK Berkshire and Wokingham United Charities.

We will use the Household Support Fund money to provide vouchers for households who receive benefit related Free School Meals during the school holidays. We will also give funding via our partnerships to provide support for food, fuel, and energy costs.

How will the funding be used

Each council has the flexibility to use the funds in ways that best support their residents. In Wokingham, we will use the funding as follows:

1. direct financial support for low-income households with children who directly receive pupil premium free school meals
2. a scheme that allows residents to apply for financial help if they are struggling
3. cost-of-living support for low-income households, including specific funding for charities that help with debt advice across multiple demographics
4. funding for local community organisations supporting residents who are struggling due to the cost-of-living, including SEND after-school provisions and extra-curricular opportunities

Who will receive payments, and when

The current round of funding will run from mid-September 2025 until the end of March 2026. Those who qualify to receive money from the Household Support Fund will be supported during this period.

Who is eligible to apply

Ahead of the new round of UK Government funding, the alliance reviewed how they had given out the funding and who had received it in all of the previous rounds. This helped create a new approach which aims to better understand people's circumstances and help them transition out of the Household Support Fund, given that this is the final round. The focus is to identify the people with the greatest need, particularly families and individuals facing financial hardship, people with disabilities and older people. These individuals will be contacted by one of the charities to confirm their possible eligibility for this round of funding.

For our first phase of round 7 of the Household Support Fund you must be in receipt of a means tested benefit and in addition to one or more of the below criteria:

• In receipt of Limited Capability for Work- and work-related activity (LCWRA)
• In receipt of a non means tested benefit (Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, i.e. not child benefit
• Debts and Arrears (Rent, Council Tax, Energy etc.), including whether the debt is interest-bearing or not
• Been in receipt of additional non-Household Support Fund services (e.g., Food Bank or other non-Household Support Fund support)
• In receipt of pension credits

What is the application process if I meet the criteria

Individuals who meet the requirements for Household Support Funding may be contacted by one of the charities, who will assist with making a personalised plan based on their individual need and circumstances. 

If you have not been in receipt of the UK Government funding from the Household Support Fund in the past, but need financial support, please contact a charity in the Hardship Alliance and they will assess your possible eligibility and provide further help and advice.

• Citizens Advice Wokingham: householdsupportfund@citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk
• Age UK Berkshire: info@ageukberkshire.org.uk
• Wokingham United Charities: hsg@wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk

The Hardship Alliance will continue to review the distribution of the funds in line with the new approach and to best meet need. Further information will be issued in accordance with the review processes.

Other sources of support

Other means of support are also available if you need it:

• If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax, you may be eligible to a Council Tax discount or exemption
• If you receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit and it doesn’t cover all your rent, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment to help
• If you are a local business and need help with business rates, or are struggling to pay, you may be eligible for a reduction and further support
• If you receive certain benefits your child may be eligible for free school meals

For more information about support you may be able to access, see our Cost of Living page.

You can also contact Citizens Advice Wokingham to get help with benefits, debt, housing, relationship problems and employment law. Call 0808 278 7958, Monday to Friday.