I would be grateful if you could please provide the following information, with regards to the Household Support Fund (Tranche: 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023)

1. The total spend of the Household Support Fund as of 31st December 2022, as per the interim Management Information report
£268,120

2. The total spend of the Household Support Fund on households with a disabled person as of 31st December 2022 as per the interim Management Information report
£9,240 – please note that under the Household Support Fund, there are four categories of household – those with children; those with disabled persons; those with pensioners; and all others. It is down to each household to specify the type of household that they fall into. We do not split up awards if a household includes more than one type of household, so a household with a child and a pensioner and a disabled person, for example, would only be categorised as either a household with children or a household with pensioners or a household with a disabled person, as determined by the applicant themselves.

Similarly, there is substantial funding for children in the form of Free School Meal vouchers during the school holidays. These are all classed under the category of households with children. The household may, however, also include disabled persons and/or pensioners.

3. The total spend of the Household Support Fund on households with a disabled person that has gone directly to these households in the form of vouchers, item purchases or bank transfer (i.e. not provided to third parties to deliver services to support this group)
£9,240 as explained in the response to Q2 – further support will likely be included in other categories of spend where disability is not the only characteristic the household meets.

4. For Tranche 1: Has the local authority set an allocated expenditure for households with a disabled person and if so, what is the total figure for the expenditure?
No.

5. What data is being used to identify households with disabled people who may benefit from the scheme (e.g. in receipt of disability benefits, being provided with a care package by your local authority)
Wokingham Borough Council operates an application process for the Household Support Fund, rather than simply distributing to those residents it believes are eligible. Whilst it is easier and cheaper to simply distribute funds, the Council does not believe this is the right approach, as it merely addresses the short-term need without getting to understand the root causes of why people are struggling or what other support they require.

Opportunities to access the funding are promoted through a range of VCS partners to widen access to different demographics including people with a disability. Through our more engaging approach, our VCS partners work with the clients to understand their challenges, discuss other support that may be required and provide further information, advice, and services. Through this approach:
• over 75% of people approaching our children’s charity partner have asked for and been provided with additional support, which has included helping 253 children with school uniforms who had not previously received this support and increasing take-up of free school meals amongst eligible families.
• all of those approaching Age UK as our VCS partner working with pensioners have received additional support, including help in reducing their fuel bills ahead of winter.
• Citizen’s Advice have provided additional support to 30% of the people who have applied: providing debt advice; increasing free school meals signups; and providing support in applying for benefits, amongst other support needs.

6. What is the eligibility criteria for households with disabled people to be able to avail of support through the Household Support Fund?
Wokingham Borough Council works in partnership with the Hardship Alliance, which includes Age Uk Berkshire; Citizens Advice Wokingham; First Days Children’s Charity; Wokingham Foodbank; and Wokingham United Charities to deliver the Council’s Tackling Poverty Strategy.

For residents in receipt of means-tested benefits: If a resident receives Universal credit or any other means-tested benefits (MTB) and has provided evidence for this, then they will be eligible.

If a resident is not in receipt of means-tested benefits, then a calculation is made on available income. For this, essential expenditure* is subtracted from the household income. If the resident’s available income is equal to or less than £1,000 and they have savings of less than £6k, then they will be eligible.
If a resident has more than £6k in savings, then they are not eligible (NB - pensioners or persons with disabilities may have savings of more than £6k, but their monthly care costs could be very high due to high electricity bills for running equipment etc. so local discretion applies). Those with higher energy bills as a result of home medical equipment may be eligible for an additional payment to help meet those extra costs.

* For essential expenditures we would be considering:
o Bills incl. Rent/mortgage, CT, Gas, Electric, Any other fuel, water & TV Licence, Phone & Broadband, childcare - if essential
o Household & Personal only including Grocery shopping & healthcare.
o Any disability related expenditures e.g., taxi fares, cleaners, disability support pets.
o Transport
o Car or other vehicles
o Savings

7. What formats and communication channels (e.g. easy-read, audio) are being provided to ensure information about the Household Support Fund and the application process is accessible for disabled people?
Wokingham Borough Council provides multiple channels available for applicants, including telephone, email, leaflets, through VCS partners, and the website - the webpages have been tested and score highly on accessibility. In addition, the partners in the Hardship Alliance provide support and help for those who find it difficult to apply for the Household Support Fund.