Previous Household Support Fund schemes

These are the details of previous of the Household Support fund schemes, including the statistics Merton reported to the Department for Work and Pensions at the end of each scheme. These schemes have now closed and are no longer available. Please see our Household Support fund page for details of any current schemes and Merton’s Cost of Living Support page for details of wider support available to residents of the borough.

Household Support Fund scheme 1

1 Oct 21 to 30 March 2022

Funds received = £1,186,607

Focus of the fund – none identified by the Government. Targeted to low income households and those presenting as in need.

How the fund was distributed

• £545,380 - 4958 awards of £110 to all people in receipt of Council Tax Support in Merton. Payment was made directly to resident’s bank accounts if the bank account details held. All eligible residents were identified and either paid directly or asked to submit their bank details. Eligible residents did not need to apply for this payment.

• £36,531 – to purchase replacement essential  household items for residents whose appliances had broken down beyond economical repair and support those presenting as in financial need.
• £607,230 - A total of 26,915 vouchers were issued to families in receipt of free school meals towards the cost of food during school holidays. This has been paid by vouchers of directly to eligible families:

Statistics

Household Support Fund scheme 2

1 April 22 to 30 September 2022

Funds received = £1,186,483

Focus of the fund – the Government required a third of the funding to go to residents of pension age.

How the fund was distributed

• £370,625 was paid to 3431 residents of pension age in receipt of Council Tax Support on 1 April 2022. Payment of £125 each paid by Post Office Payout vouchers. Eligible residents did not need to apply for this payment.
• £74,563.98– to support residents who do not have access to Government cost of living payments but are experiencing financial hardship
• £53,000 to care leavers, foster carers and special guardians. Paid directly to bank accounts.
• £10,570 used to purchase replacement cookers, fridge freezers and washing machines. 59 applications had orders made for them.

• £675,820 A total of 14,136 vouchers were issued to families in receipt of free school meals towards the cost of food during school holidays. This has been paid by vouchers of directly to eligible families:

Statistics

Household Support Fund scheme 3

1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023

Funds received: £1,186,463

Focus of the fund: general support for low-income households who did not receive the help given by the previous cost of living payments, helping with additional energy costs due to disability.

How the fund was distributed

• £454,000 allocated to all households who were in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS) on 30 September 2022. 7,566 households received £60 in cash payable by voucher. Eligible residents did not need to apply for this.
• £85,000 has been allocated to application based self-referrals by residents to support those who are not eligible for support under other Cost of Living payments made by the Government or Merton and for disabled residents experiencing higher costs due to their disability. This is being delivered by Wimbledon Guild, a local partner in the borough.

• £630,105 A total of 27,915 vouchers were issued to families in receipt of free school meals towards the cost of food during school holidays. This has been paid by vouchers of directly to eligible families:

Statistics

Awaiting final figures. Will be updated when calculated.