Glossary · UK
What is Household Support Fund?
A government grant distributed by English local councils to help vulnerable households cover essentials like food, energy and water bills.
Full Definition
The Household Support Fund (HSF) is central government money allocated to upper-tier and unitary councils in England to support households struggling with the cost of essentials such as food, energy, water and other basic needs. It is not a single national benefit you apply for in one place; instead, each council designs its own local scheme, sets eligibility criteria and decides how to distribute support, so what you can get and how you claim varies by area. Help is typically given as supermarket or energy vouchers, direct payments, white-goods grants, or automatic awards to households already receiving certain benefits or free school meals. You usually do not need to be on benefits to qualify, as awards often target low income or financial hardship more broadly, but funds are limited and may run out within a funding period. To find your scheme, search your local council's website for "Household Support Fund". HSF payments are normally disregarded for tax and do not affect means-tested benefits. The fund applies to England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate hardship and welfare assistance schemes, such as the Scottish Welfare Fund and the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales.