1 Overview
The Government has announced the continuation of the Household Support Fund, to provide support between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023. Local councils have been allocated funding by the Department of Work and Pensions to support residents in need across the county.
The expectation is that the fund should be used to support households in the most need, particularly those who may not be eligible for the other support Government has recently made available. The fund is intended to cover a wide range of low-income households in need. Any households who believe they meet the criteria can apply.
For more information visit Household Support Fund: guidance for local councils (GOV.UK) and our Cost of living web pages.
2 How support is provided
Household Support Funds will be available through a range of different methods including via district and borough councils, direct support through applications via the Community Hub and distributed in partnership with other organisations including Citizens Advice and food and fuel banks.
As well as wider community support, this funding will also enable us to continue to provide supermarket vouchers during the holidays for children eligible for term-time free school meals.
Please be aware:
- no cash payments will be given
- applicants who meet the criteria will receive a one-off support offering only
- all applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and all support offerings are subject to specified criteria
- vouchers can only be used for the purpose they are provided for.
Available support
We know that sudden unexpected costs can create real challenges for our residents who are experiencing financial hardship. The Household Support Fund is available to provide one off short-term support to meet immediate needs and help those who are struggling to access the essentials.
Due to the limited amount of funds available, we will prioritise items necessary for day-to-day living such as food, energy and water.
Food and household essentials vouchers
Successful applicants will be awarded the below supermarket voucher values dependant on the size of their household.
- Households with one or more adults: £25
- Households with one child: £50
- Households with two or more children: £75
Energy support
If you are currently experiencing financial hardship with no alternative option available and are concerned that your energy supply may be at risk of disconnection, please complete an application for support.
Local support
Help can also be provided by district and borough councils including support and advice about housing and rent payments.
Carers support
If you need to talk or find information about what is happening locally, Carers Support West Sussex can offer you guidance and a listening ear. Their fully trained staff can be contacted via email, telephone or online chat.
You do not need to be in a caring role to benefit from this service.
3 Apply for support
You will need to provide evidence of hardship with your application form and our team will assess your circumstances against the eligibility criteria.
You will need documentation supporting your application, such as:
- proof of ID, photographic or official letter
- a recent bill or official letter as proof of address and residence in West Sussex
- evidence of benefits, including any discounts or reductions
- other relevant evidence of your household’s current hardship.
Please be aware, we may not be able to process your application without the supporting documentation.
Use the West Sussex County Council online form below to request support.
Application or request for support (external link)If your request is urgent, for example, you are going to run out of food within the next two days, please phone 033 022 27980. Lines are open between 9.00am-5.00pm seven days a week, including bank holidays.
4 Vouchers
Where possible we will normally provide vouchers as the primary support offering. If you have any queries regarding vouchers, including how to claim them, you can find comprehensive guides and information below.
Please be aware: Evouchers sent via email may take up to 72 hours to arrive. If an email address is not provided, then vouchers will be posted to the applicant's address, which may incur further delay.
- How to log in and view vouchers - EVouchers
- How to claim your vouchers - Evouchers
- Can my voucher be used online and when does it expire? - EVouchers
- How to access your voucher (step by step instructions) - EVouchers
- Check the balance of a voucher - EVouchers
You don’t have to be receiving benefits to access help from your local council. If you do receive benefits, they won’t be affected when making an application via this scheme.
Further information and support is available on our Cost of living web pages.
5 Privacy notice
You can find details about how we use and manage your personal data on our privacy notice.
Community Hub privacy notice