ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA BELOW CAN BE CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE, IF REQUIRED.

Your household has NOT received funds from the Household Support Fund scheme within the last 12 months
Must be the householder i.e responsible for paying council tax and/or rent
Must be over 18 years (or living independently if under the age of 18).
Have a household income of less than £31k (including means tested benefits)
Have insufficient funds in their bank account or savings to meet the cost of essentials
Be considered to be Households in the Most Need (see below).

Local eligibility criteria may be changed, without notice, at any point during the scheme, but only when necessary and appropriate.

The Council will make all necessary checks and will have the final decision on whether an application is successful or not.

 This fund can include households taking up new tenancies in social housing and the private rented sector to help them with essential items and costs.

The fund can be used for housing support costs where DHP and other housing support does not meet this essential need. Where the applicant is at risk of homelessness should be referred to the Housing Options Team at BDHT or the Homelessness and Housing Solutions Team in Redditch. Contact details for BDHT are 01527 557510 contact details for Redditch Homelessness and Housing Solutions 01527 534069.
Household Support Grant should not be utilised as an ongoing solution to support unsustainable tenancies.

The fund cannot be used to provide mortgage support and applicants should be referred to their lenders, but homeowners can qualify for support with other essentials.

The fund can be used to fund historic rent arrears if all other options have been exhausted.

Those requiring help with gas, electric, water, LPG tank top up, bottled gas, coal, boiler repairs and heating replacement or installation should be referred to Act on Energy. 0800 988 2881 support@actonenergy.org.uk

Please note Act on Energy will not provide emergency help for utility costs.

Applicants requiring food only can be referred to local food banks.

Eligible Spend
Applications can cover more than one element of the funding below as long as the value doesn’t exceed the applicable amount for the appropriate household type.

Essential Items
Warm clothing
Toiletries
Bedding (Blankets, Duvets)

Household Items
Purchase of kitchen equipment including Fridges, Freezers, Washing Machines, Ovens, Slow Cookers, Air Fryers to save energy. NOT TUMBLE DRYERS
Help with Energy/Utility costs

Wider Essentials
May include but is not limited to:
Other bills including broadband and phone bills
Clothing
Essential transport costs – repairing a car, buying fuel, buying a bicycle.

Vouchers

Post Office vouchers will be awarded to successful applicants to assist with the purchasing of the required essentials. The maximum rates will be issued to the following households:
Single Households £200
Couples £250
Families £350
Any Households with a Pensioner and/or Disability will receive an additional £100

Definitions

• For the purpose of this grant the definition of a child is any person: Who is under the age of 19 in full time education and the applicant received a child related benefit eg Child Benefit, Child Element UC, Child Tax Credits.
• A person aged 19 or over in respect of whom a child related benefit eg child benefit is paid or free school meals are provided.

Households in the Most Need

Vulnerabilities can be wide ranging, and the list below is a guide and not an exhaustive list and is in addition to the government guidance:

• Qualify for benefits and housing benefit, whether or not they are claiming.
• Qualify for housing benefit only.
• Those who may not be eligible for the other support government has recently made available but who are nevertheless in need and who require crisis support.
• Groups vulnerable to rising prices.
• A wide range of low income households in need, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers, disabled people, larger families, single-person households, and those struggling with one-off financial shocks or unforeseen events, as per government guidance.

Evidence will be required to prove eligibility

Proof of a minimum 6 month residency at applicant address
• Tenancy Agreement
• Confirmation of Any State Benefits
• Life Assurance/Insurance Policies
• Letter from Solicitor or Inland Revenue
• Utility Bill – gas/electric/water/telephone/mobile

And:

Proof of Income
• Current Payslip/Universal Credit Statement or proof of other benefits, including name and address
• Self Assessment
• Two months Bank, Post Office, savings Statements (can also be used to confirm residency if providing over 6 months of same address)