To accept the Household Support Fund allocation from the Department of Work and Pensions for 6 months, to end 30 September 2024 and to approve the local eligibility approach for allocation of the funding for the Household Support Fund.

That:

a)    The Household Support Fund allocation of £1,329,601.78 grant funding from the Department of Work and Pensions for April 2024 to September 2024 is accepted;

b)    The local eligibility approach for allocation of the funding, as set out in paragraph 8, is approved;

c)    Application of the principles of local eligibility as set out in this report is approved for any further extensions of the Household Support Fund, subject to any additional guidance issued by central government; and

d)    All operational and budgetary decisions in accordance with the local eligibility criteria regarding this scheme be delegated to Director of Resources and Assurance.  

1.            Not to accept the allocation and agree a local eligibility framework and approach for the Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme at this time. This is not recommended. The HSF is to be used from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024, to support vulnerable households. This is a key decision as the council will be incurring expenditure over £421,000 and it will impact on a significant number of residents within the county. Approval is therefore required for the framework and approach. Without approval, the council will be unable to incur the expenditure of the grant allocation of £1,329,601.78 for Herefordshire

2.            To use all the funding allocation exclusively on those identified through means-tested benefits identified through data from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). This is not recommended. The expectation is that the HSF should be used to support households in the most need, particularly those who are not eligible for the other government support recently made available, but who are nevertheless in need.  The flexibility of the HSF and the local eligibility framework will enable support to be provided to those on low incomes who do not qualify for means-tested benefits.

3.            To use all the funding allocation exclusively on those who are on non means-tested benefits. This is also not recommended. There may be those on means-tested benefits, who despite the level of support received through the government’s cost of living package of support, are vulnerable to rising prices, for example large families with children of all ages, households with a disabled family member or single income families.