The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced an extension to a scheme that will help support vulnerable families across Greater Manchester.
The Household Support Fund will gain an additional £842 million in funding from April 1 which will target and support the most vulnerable households across England. The fund will be allocated by local authorities across the nation, including in many parts of the North West.
Money from the fund is intended to allow households to pay for their essential needs such as energy bills or groceries. The distribution of the funding is targeted at the areas of the country with the most vulnerable households.
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The Household Support Fund was first launched on 6 October 2021, and has been extended through various schemes since. It has now been extended through to 31 March 2024. This year represents the fourth edition of the fund.
Mims Davies, DWP Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, said: "The Household Support Fund has already helped vulnerable families across England through these challenging times and I am pleased it will continue to do so for another full year. This is just one part of our extensive and targeted £26 billion support package, which includes payments worth £900 for millions of people on benefits and additional support for disabled people and pensioners, whilst every household will continue to save money thanks to our Energy Price Guarantee.
"We also know that bearing down on inflation is one of the best ways to help families cope with rising bills, which is why the Prime Minister has made halving inflation this year one of his top priorities."
How much money Greater Manchester boroughs are being allocated
- Manchester - £12,906,326.40
- Bolton - £5,560,633.14
- Bury - £3,068,400.11
- Oldham - £4,838,738.47
- Rochdale - £4,674,767.70
- Salford - £5,467,798.21
- Stockport - £4,326,259.42
- Tameside - £4,449,372.65
- Trafford - £2,916,148.96
- Wigan - £5,636,468.60
How to apply for the Household Support Fund
In order to begin receiving money from the scheme, applicants must first contact their local authority which you can find using the government website. Once you find out who your local authority is, you can contact them and tell them you're interested in the Household Support Fund and believe you may be eligible.
Because it is up to local authorities on who will receive the money, the eligibility criteria may vary.
A DWP spokesperson said: "This comes on top of extensive support for those in need in the coming months. The most vulnerable will receive direct payments in 2023/24, which include up to £900 delivered in three payments to those on means-tested benefits, a £150 payment for those on disability benefits, and £300 on top of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioner households.
"Benefits and pensions will also increase by 10.1% in April, with the minimum wage seeing its largest ever cash rise, hitting £10.42 an hour. And more widely, the Energy Price Guarantee will save the typical household £500 in 2023/24."
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