If you live in the Essex County Council area
Help Under the Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund (HSF) is there to help low income households struggling with the cost of:
- energy
- food
- hygiene products
Low income households that qualify include:
- families
- pensioners
- unpaid carers
- care leaver
- disabled people
People can make up to 2 awards for food and energy costs during the period October 2024 to March 2025.
However please note if you are working age your second application will be held for consideration at the close of the scheme based on funding availability.
Help Under the Essential Living Fund
Eligibility
You can claim from the 1 October 2024 if you are:
- 16 or over
- a resident in the Essex County Council area
- on a low income or with little or no resources
- and you fit at least one of the criteria
Criteria
1. You need help establishing in the community following a stay of at least 3 months:
- in an institution
- in a care home
- in local authority care
- in a hostel
- in a prison or similar
2. You need help to ease exceptional pressures on yourself and your family.
Please note being on a low income alone is not an indicator of exceptional pressure. There must be a circumstance that has applied greater pressure than normally associated with a low income, such as:
- breakdown of a relationship
- sudden domestic upheaval
- deterioration in a disability
3. You are unable to meet your immediate short term needs either because of an:
- unforeseen emergency in relation to some expenses
- unforeseen disaster (fire, flood etc)
Please note this does not apply to people:
- affected by the Government Welfare Reform Programme
- with delays to benefit applications
- whose money has been lost or stolen
Do I qualify
To see whether you qualify for the award you will need to answer questions about your:
- income
- earnings, and
- savings
You also need to give proof of your financial situation.
Assessment will be made of all other help you:
- have received, or
- have available to you
This includes any support you have already received through any other support the Government have recently made available.
What the Scheme Covers
Where you fit the criteria to claim, the scheme can cover applications for:
- beds
- bedding
- limited white goods
- clothing
- general living expenses - these are day to day living expenses such as:
- groceries
- toiletries
- energy costs
If you are awarded the grant, you will receive your award by:
- AllPay card
- high quality recycled furniture from a reputable charity
The maximum number of awards that can be considered for general living expenses is 3 in a year.
For all other items only 1 award can be considered a year.
How to Apply
If you live in Essex (excluding the City of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Council areas), use this online form.
Further information
For more information please view the Essex ELF policy
For more advice and guidance please see Essential Living Fund frequently asked questions.