Key announcements

Due to maintenance, some of our online forms and systems will be unavailable from 6:00am on Saturday 30 March to 7:00am on Monday 1 April. We are sorry for any inconvenience. To find out more about the section 114 notice, visit our section 114 page

Household Support Fund 2023 to 2024

The Household Support Fund, provided by the Department for Work and Pensions, is a fixed amount of money available to the local authority to support households in most need with essentials such as:

  • food
  • energy
  • essential goods and supplies, including water

Various forms of assistance are being offered to address a wide range of household circumstances.

These funds are not impacted by the recent issuing of a section 114 notice by Birmingham City Council (BCC). More details about this can be found on the section 114 frequently asked question page.

Preventing fraud

We must make sure that all applications are made legitimately.

You may have committed an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 if you:

  • falsely declare your circumstances
  • provide a false statement
  • provide false evidence in support of your application

We have a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and financial irregularity and frequent internal audits within the application system actively monitor submitted applications for signs of fraud. Any attempts to make fraudulent applications or fraudulently receive grant funding will be referred to West Midlands Police.

1. Application Based: Hardship Grant Community Fund

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council’s (BVSC) Hardship Grant Community Fund (HGCF), part of Birmingham City Council’s (BCC) wider Household Support Fund (HSF), activity will run until 31 March 2024.

BVSC will distribute grants of up to £200 to Birmingham households currently facing financial hardship. The funds are intended to help with food costs and energy payments.

Who is eligible

  • You must be a Birmingham resident
  • You must be experiencing financial hardship, particularly with covering food and energy costs
  • Your household must not have received a hardship grant payment in the last 12 months

You may be expected to provide proof of address and proof of means-tested benefits (if you are in receipt of them) in the case that you are invited to apply.

Each household is only eligible to receive one £200 grant payment in a 12-month period. For example, if you received a £200 payment on 30 September 2022, you cannot re-apply until 1 October 2023. Any application received before your eligibility date will be rejected.

Receiving a grant from this fund will not impact on any other benefits you may be receiving, or may be entitled to. This grant is free at the point of access, and under no circumstances should you be required to pay a fee to apply for a grant from the Hardship Grant Community Fund.

Grant payments are made directly into a bank account in the applicant’s name. If you do not currently have a bank account, see the Moneyhelper website for additional information and support on opening an account.

How to apply

Complete your enquiry form using the link below to secure your place on the waiting list. A member of the team in your local area will contact you to complete your full application.

Hardship grant enquiry form

You must provide the correct contact details on the enquiry form or our partner will not be able to reach you.

If you are unable to access the form, then you can telephone 0121 634 7100 to progress your enquiry.

Your enquiry will be processed more quickly if you use the online enquiry form, so we strongly encourage you to do so if you are able to.

2. Low Income Pension Age Households - Cash Voucher Scheme – starting in December 2023

We are sending letters to 35,000 low income pension age households, in receipt of Council Tax Support with a £50 cash pay-out voucher.

If you receive this letter, take it to any Post Office and you will receive a cash payment.

You will need to present the letter with a valid Council Tax Reduction letter, or utility bill (an electricity bill, gas bill or telephone bill that must show your name and your current address), or valid form of ID including the Post Office Easy ID.

Visit the Post Office Easy ID web page for more details.

The first batch of bar coded vouchers have been sent by post with the remainder being dispatched over the course of December 2023. The money must be collected within 3 months of the date on the letter.

Existing help and support

You can find more information and resources on cost of living help on:

The BCC cost of living support page

The Government cost of living support page


Page last updated: 19 December 2023

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