THOUSANDS of households will be able to get free financial support from their council, including supermarket vouchers and help with rent payments.
Rotherham Council has confirmed how it will spend the latest round of Government funding as part of the Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme.
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It approved a spending plan this week after receiving £4.387m for the 2025/26 financial year.
The Government’s £742million Household Support Fund is being split between councils across England to help the poorest residents.
The scheme has been extended multiple times with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026.
Each council gets to decide how it will spend the cash but the aim is to help those on a low income or benefits.
Rotherham has said it will prioritise helping residents with food, energy grants and council tax relief, as well as aid for care leavers and other vulnerable groups.
Roughly half of the funding – £2.687million – will be spent on supermarket vouchers for the families of children eligible for free school meals.
The vouchers will be given out during the school holidays and will be worth £15 per week.
All children who get free school meals will be eligible automatically and their families will not need to apply.
The council will also be making Discretionary Housing Payments to help people cover their rent.
The payments will be given to people on Housing Benefit or who get the housing element of Universal Credit but need more help with housing costs.
Separately, the Local Council Tax Support scheme will reduce council tax bills for more than 14,000 low-income households.
Some £500,000 has been allocated to fund the Energy Crisis Support scheme, which will give one-off £250 energy grants to more than 2,000 households.
Young people leaving care and setting up home can also get help for food and utility bills through the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate.
Rotherham Council said it’s already working directly with these young people and there is no need to apply.
As well as this, the fund will help provide more food, household goods and personal hygiene products to foodbanks.
People can access this help by visiting their local foodbank or Open Arms drop-in sessions.
Another £60,000 is being spent on helping local voluntary and community groups to distribute food hampers and support over Christmas and New Year.
What if you don’t live in Rotherham?
If you’re struggling financially but don’t live in Rotherham you may still be able to get help from the Household Support Fund.
That’s because the fund is being split between councils across England, so your local council should have its own plans.
What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers.
The latest round of funding has only just started so your council might not be accepting applications yet.
It’s worth keeping an eye on your local council’s website or social media channels.
Plus, most councils have pages on their websites dedicated to their HSF.
You might be able to find it by typing in the name of your council then “Household Support Fund” into Google search.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.
