Although we know that a new round of the Household Support Fund has been agreed by the Government, at the moment we do not know the eligibility details.
We anticipate the scheme being live and able to take claims from towards the end of April or start of May. Please continue to check our website for any updates.
Updated 2nd April 2024.
The next round of the Household Support Fund (HSF4 phase 2) is now live from the 31st October 2023.
If you won’t receive a Cost Of Living Payment because you are not in receipt of a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit or tax credits, but you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, we may be able to give you a Household Support Fund (HSF) payment.
Please note – anyone who has already received a payment for the Household Support Fund in the last phase, the period 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2023, will not be eligible.
Based on this, the eligibility criteria will be as follows:
- Applicants must be over 18 years old.
- Applicants must be resident within the Wealden District Council Local Authority area.
- Applicants must be getting Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction (or getting a SEMI exemption and would normally get Council Tax Reduction) .
- Applicants must not be getting any of the following means tested benefits:
- Universal Credit (those that get the Limited Work Capability element are eligible)
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
(However, applicants that are getting one of the means tested benefits listed above are eligible if they also get Carer’s Allowance/Carer’s Allowance Element of Universal Credit/under the Support Group of Income Related ESA or one of the following disability benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
Claims will be made through the Ascendant system. Only one application can be paid during the lifetime of the scheme and only one application per household. A payment of £350 will be made by BACS within 10-14 days of a successful claim.
The full criteria can be seen below along with the link to make an application online.
If you are unable to make an online application and do not have anyone to help you, please contact the Benefits Service and they will be able to assist you.
Please note that the funding we have been given is limited, and the scheme will close on the 31st March 2024, or if sooner, the date the funds have been exhausted.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify for a payment you must meet all 4 elements of the first criteria or all 5 elements of the second criteria:
You must be 18 or over at the time of applying
You must live in an area that falls under Wealden District Council’s jurisdiction Find Your Local Council
Housing Benefit is help towards your rent and Council Tax Reduction is help towards your council tax
You must not be receiving any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credits
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Based Jobseekers’ Allowance
If you receive the Limited Capability For Work element of Universal Credit you are eligible to apply
Or
You must be 18 or over at the time of applying
You must live in an area that falls under Wealden District Council’s jurisdiction Find Your Local Council
Housing Benefit is help towards your rent and Council Tax Reduction is help towards your council tax
You can be in receipt of any of the following:
Disability benefits are:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pensions Mobility Supplement
For more information about Carer’s Allowance
For more information about the Carer’s element of Universal Credit
For more information about the Support Group for Employment and Support Allowance
How will I be paid?
We will pay the £350 directly into your bank account.
Please allow 7 – 10 working days from the date your application is approved for payment to reach your account.
How do I apply?
The scheme opens for applications 31st October 2023.
You can apply via the Apply4Online portal. https://wealden.grantapproval.co.uk/
If you have applied for any financial help in the past using the Apply4Online portal, you can use the same account to make your HSF application.
When you log in you can enter quick code 658AXD to access the scheme.
Please allow 7 – 10 days for your application to be considered.