Household support fund
Overview
The Government has provided the Household Support Fund to local authorities for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Having considered about how best to help people in Cheshire West and Chester, we have chosen to spend the money in the following ways:
- food vouchers for families with children who get free school meals
- payments to Pensioners who receive Pension Credit
- payments to Pensioners on a low income who are not receiving Pension Credit and therefore no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment support
- making financial support available to people via local charitable organisations
- helping low income households with energy and food costs
- income maximisation software to support residents to claim all of their eligible entitlements
The discretionary support for helping low income households with energy and food costs is now available for applications. Please see our Energy and food cost support page to apply.
To ensure a smooth application process, please read through all of the claim advice given on the energy and food cost support page before applying.
Please note that the other schemes shown above are being currently developed and are not yet available. Once these schemes become available, this webpage will be updated with the relevant details.
If you are currently struggling and require support with energy and food, we have lots of information available regarding the cost of living, other benefits and grants available, and our HELP scheme which provides support in an emergency or crisis situation for food, furniture and white goods.
You can contact the HELP scheme on 0808 175 3599 Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.
