Suffolk has received £10.2m through the Government’s Household Support Fund this financial year, to help families who are struggling with the cost of living.
The Household Support Fund is an allocation of funding the Government has given Suffolk to support people who are struggling to pay their energy and utility bills.
In the period covering the period of 1 April 2022 to 30 September 2022 Suffolk County Council received £5.1m from the Government in the Household Support fund. A further £5.1m funding was allocated to Suffolk in October. This funding runs from 1 October 2022 – 30 March 2023.
£1.3m of the Household Support Fund has been allocated to provide food vouchers during school holidays to students who receive income-based Free School Meals. These £15 vouchers can be redeemed at various supermarkets. The vouchers expire three months after delivery.
During the October half-term, approximately 21,200 vouchers were redeemed, utilising £321,000 of this fund.
Food vouchers will also be funded during the Christmas holidays and February half term in 2023. Please contact your school to find out if you are eligible.
Funding has also been allocated to District and Borough councils to provide specific housing support to their communities. How this funding is allocated is up to the individual councils and can include, but is not limited to, support with rent and service charges.
You can apply for support by contacting your local borough or district council. To contact your local housing team, please visit their websites, listed below. To find out who your local District or Borough Council is, you can use the Postcode Checker at GOV.UK.
The remainder of the funding is allocated through the council’s Local Welfare Assistance Scheme. Suffolk Public Sector Leaders have also allocated an additional £1.8m to bolster the support offered through the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme.
The Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS) helps those experiencing financial hardship and can provide financial help, guidance and advice.
The scheme is not intended as emergency or long-term support and only one application can be made per household. Successful applications will receive a BACS payment directly into a bank account or a Post Office cash out voucher.
To find out whether you are eligible for support or to make an application, please visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/LWAS
Councillor Bobby Bennett, cabinet member for Equality and Communities, said:
“Both in Suffolk and nationally, we are facing challenging times with increases in the Cost of Living affecting us all. The support provided through the Government’s Household Support fund and the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders funding is just part of a wider package of support for Suffolk residents and organisations, through the County Council, District and borough Councils and our partners in the Voluntary sector.”
“No one organisation can tackle this issue alone and I would like to thank partners for their efforts to get this support to those who need it the most. If you know anybody who is struggling with the Cost of Living, please do encourage them to seek support by visiting www.suffolk.gov.uk/costofliving.”
Further details of cost of living support available for Suffolk residents and organisations can be found at www.suffolk.gov.uk/costofliving
