Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund grant has been given to various Norfolk organisations working together to make sure the funding goes to those most in need.
The Household Support Fund provides short-term financial support to meet immediate needs and help those struggling to afford food, energy and water bills, and other related essentials this winter.
The scheme runs until Thursday 31 March 2022.
Eligibility
You can only make a new claim for the fund if the following apply:
- you are over the age of 18
- you live in the district
Priority will be given to applicants that are receiving either of the following:
- income-related benefits, including Pension Credit
- disability-related benefits
- long-term sickness benefit
and
- live in a property with Energy Performance Certificate E or below or are known to be in fuel poverty
We recognise that other residents in the district will not be eligible for this fund who may also face hardship. So, we will accept applications for other essential types of support that cannot be budgeted for and which deliver on the aims of this scheme. We will consider these items on a case-by-case basis.
How to apply
We will identify households eligible for a payment under the above criteria. We will contact you to discuss any support needs and how we can support you through the winter. We aim to contact you by Wednesday 15 December 2021.
You can also claim the fund online. There is telephone support available for those who require assistance to complete the form, contact 01263 516349. Applications can be made by the applicant or someone on their behalf. We also allow direct referrals from trusted partners through our online application system.
We will not fund
This fund will not provide mortgage support.
If you are having difficulty with your mortgage payments, contact your lender as soon as possible to discuss, as lenders will have a set procedure to assist.
What happens next?
After we have received your application, we will pass it to an advisor. The advisor will make a decision based on the information provided.
We will assess the following:
- eligibility criteria
- funds available at the time of the application
- the risk faced by the applicant
Our advisors will also consider the priority of their application, including:
- financial circumstances
- access to other forms of financial support
- circumstances and reasons for the claim
- preventative measures taken by the applicant or partner
- impact of receiving or not receiving the fund
How much will I get?
As part of the application, you will be asked to indicate the support that is required. It will not always be possible to provide the full amount due to our limited available funds. We may refer your application to another organisation to fund part of the request.
How will payments be made?
Payments will be made in one of the following ways:
- vouchers
- pre-paid card
- direct payment into your bank account (not a third-party account)
Advising you of a decision
We will confirm in writing If you are entitled to a payment.
We will contact you by phone if your application has been unsuccessful and explain other support options.
How often can I apply?
We will usually provide support from the fund once. In exceptional circumstances, we will consider repeat applications. In that case, we will discuss further work and referrals to other agencies with the applicant, For example, referrals to Norfolk Assistance Scheme.