About the fund
The UK Government provides funding through the Household Support Fund to help support Merton residents during the cost of living crisis.
There have been four Household Support Funding schemes. Each scheme has had an objective to support all low-income households with additional focus on specific target groups to ensure the widest range of help has been available to residents at different times.
Household Support Fund scheme 5
To support residents from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024.
The Government recently announced funding for a fifth scheme. Final figures of the actual allocation and amount spent will be available by 26 April 2024. We plan to publish full details of the scheme by mid-May 2024. Please check back later or sign up to Merton's e-newsletter for updates.
In the meantime, see our Cost of Living page for information and support.
Household Support Fund scheme 4
1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
Funds received: £2,372,215
Focus of the fund: Supporting low-income households who did not receive previous cost of living payments, helping with additional energy costs due to disability, addressing fuel poverty in the approach to winter 2023-24, and assisting residents at risk of homelessness.
How the fund will be distributed
| Amount | Distributed to |
|---|---|
| £200,000 | Application based self-referrals by residents to support those who are experiencing financial hardship. This is particularly aimed at disabled residents experiencing higher costs due to their disability and is being delivered by Wimbledon Guild, a local partner in the borough. Details on how to apply for this can be found on the Wimbledon Guild website. |
| £1,423,500 | to provide vouchers to families in receipt of free school meals, towards the cost of food during school holidays. This will be paid directly to eligible families via Merton schools. You do not need to apply for this but you can check if you are eligible for free school meals. |
| £532,332 | To provide £60 to households who are in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) on 30 September 2023. Eligible residents do not need to apply. Those who are eligible have been sent a voucher on 30 October 2023 by post. This will arrive within 10 working days. Recipients can redeem the vouchers at any Post Office branch within 3 months of the date on the voucher. For further information please see Household Support Fund Vouchers. |
| £11,900 | To provide a £170 grant to those who did not receive the earlier support from the Household Support Fund or the Government Cost of living fund because they only receive Housing Benefit and no other benefit or tax credit. Eligible residents do not need to apply. Those who are eligible will be sent a voucher to redeem at the Post Office in December 2023. |
| £68,000 | Allocated to pay cash grants to young adults leaving care in a one-off payment. Eligible residents do not need to apply for this. |
| £43,000 | Allocated to Thinking Works to supply fuel vouchers to those in fuel hardship who:
To make an application, please email (preferred) call or text with the details below:
Freephone: 0800 118 23 27 |
| £60,000 | Top up to existing Homeless Prevention Fund, available to residents who:
|
| £33,483 | Allocated for admin costs to run the scheme. |