Household Support Fund: Application Based Support
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.
October 2024 update: enquiries for hardship grants
On 2 September, the DWP announced that the Household Support Fund will be extended from October 2024 to March 2025. Any hardship grant requests received near the end of the current funding period, which ended on 30 September 2024, are now on a waiting list.
If you have submitted a successful enquiry and are on the waiting list, you will be contacted within the next four weeks to complete your full application.
Make sure your voicemail is on so we can leave a message if we miss you, and that your phone can receive calls from private or withheld numbers.
When the fund re-open
Hardship grant requests will open again from November 2024 until 31 March 2025.
Application Based Support: Hardship Grant Community Fund
Households facing financial hardship can apply for grants through the Hardship Grant Community Fund. These grants are given out by us, with help from the Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) and local partner organisations.
Hardship payments are intended to help households with everyday household essentials such as energy and food, with grant payments of up to £200 per household.
Receiving a grant from this fund will not impact any other benefits you may be receiving or may be entitled to.
Grant payments are made directly into a bank account in the applicant’s name. If you do not currently have a bank account, please click the link below for details on how to open a Basic Bank Account.
Learn how to open a basic bank account
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. We will report all suspicions of fraud relating to this scheme to West Midlands Police.
Who is eligible
To be eligible you must:
- be a Birmingham resident
- experience financial hardship, particularly with covering costs linked to food and energy
- not have received a £200 grant payment in the last 12 months
Returning applicants
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 31 May 2023, you cannot make another application until 1 June 2024. Any enquiry received before your eligibility date will be rejected.
How to apply
To apply, you will need to complete the Hardship Grant Community Fund expression of interest form. The questions are aimed at determining your suitability for a grant payment.
Complete the expression of interest form
All applicants will be contacted via email on the outcome of their enquiry and next steps.
If you're invited to apply, you'll likely need to provide proof of your address and proof that you're receiving means-tested benefits, if applicable.
Telephone enquiries
We strongly encourage you to use the form to submit enquiries, as they are processed more quickly. If you are unable to access the form online, phone 0121 634 7100 to express your interest.
Additional support
You can find more information and resources on cost of living help on:
The BCC cost of living support page
Page last updated: 7 October 2024
