Council uses extra government funding to support vulnerable residents during winter

Funding which will support vulnerable residents this winter with essential costs is being made available through Swindon Borough Council.

The Council welcomed a further £1.5m from the Government in early October, as part of the Household Support Fund, which will provide vulnerable households with support for food, heating and housing over the colder months.

Yesterday (11 Nov), £81,000 was made available for residents in need via the Household Support Application Fund. In many instances, it is not necessary to directly use the application fund process as recipients are either automatically identified or will access the support through specific partners.

However, if a resident has experienced an unexpected expense which affects their ability to meet the cost of energy, food or other essential bills, or they are struggling to afford to run their home, they may be eligible for assistance through the Application Fund. If a resident’s application is accepted, they will be issued a one off-payment in the form of a voucher for the period up to 31 March 2025.

In addition, the Council will directly share the £1.5m made available through the Household Support Fund through projects which support vulnerable people locally. This includes £460,000 which will be used to make payments to low-income pensioners just above the Pension Credit threshold but who need additional support. A further £585,000 will be spent on food vouchers for families in need during school holidays.

Between March and October 2024, the Council was allocated £1.35m as part of the previous Household Support Fund. This allowed the Council to distribute 28,200 food vouchers to families with children during school holidays, supporting 9,600 children across the Borough. On top of this, 438 awards worth £70,000 were provided to residents.

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit. A successful application for Pension Credit will automatically trigger eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment, an annual tax-free government grant of £200 for residents under the age of 80, or £300 if they are over 80. Claims can be made online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling 0800 991234.

Council Leader, Councillor Jim Robbins, said: “I’m pleased we are now able to help eligible residents through the Household Support Fund. This vital funding will support the most vulnerable people in our local community.

“Distributed either directly to families or via third parties, as part of this programme we are looking to allocate £460,000 to people who are just above the Pension Credit cut-off to support them through the winter. Vouchers will be issued directly to pensioners who receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, but not in receipt of Pension Credit.

“We’ve been working closely with our MPs and the wider community to make sure we identify the right people to support.”