The Household Support Grant, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, was announced to support vulnerable households with the cost of living pressures between 06.10.21 and 31.03.22.

This announcement follows the Covid Winter Grant and Local Support Grant schemes ending on 30.09.21 that were used to purchase local supermarket vouchers for households in England where residents include:-
a. Pupils in receipt of free of school meals
b. Pre-school children in receipt of pupil premium
c. Disadvantage students in college settings

The Household Support Grant funding will continue this support for the October half term, Christmas break, February half term and Easter break at the equivalent of £40 per week for each eligible household, so £240 in total for around 3,900 households.

Currently there are approximately 6,000 residents in the County in receipt of universal credit whose income is below the Free School Meal and/or Free Prescription thresholds. It is proposed that the remaining funding allocation is used to provide a £60 grant to these individuals to help with their essential bills over the winter period. Eligible applicants will be invited to complete an online form that will be verified and a one off payment will be made.