Household Support Fund

Help with cost of living

The Household Support Fund is funded by the UK Government and is designed to help households with the cost-of-living crisis. Residents are recommended to work with other services and organisations to ensure they improve their financial stability.

You can find more information on cost of living support by visiting GOV.UK website.

With rises in energy, petrol and food prices, thousands of households across our borough have been feeling the squeeze.

Redbridge Council is distributing the Household Support Fund through:

  • direct applications by residents via our online form or at outreach events
  • applications by professionals
  • applications by third party organisations
  • free school meals outside of term time
  • supporting third party organisations 
  • proactive support to identified cohorts 

These are designed to assist low income, vulnerable households with essentials, including food, energy and water, essentials linked to energy and water and wider essentials. 

Redbridge Council is working with its partners across the public and voluntary sectors to support you; especially vulnerable people and those hit hardest.

Since October 2021, we have been distributing funds allocated to help Redbridge families and individuals needing extra support. The Council delivered £5.8m worth of support to the end of March 2023.

We are delivering a further £3.9m to the end of March 2024.

There are different ways of accessing the Household Support Fund:

  • Directly via our online application form.
  • Referral by a professional currently working with you or your family, such as a social worker, educational welfare officer, family support worker or through your child's school
  • Citizens Advice Redbridge based at the Central Library can make referrals

The Household Support Fund is an emergency fund and we ask that residents first use the benefits calculator to ensure they are getting all the benefits they are rightly entitled to.  

For the longer term, it is important to improve your chances of getting into a job. The Council provides support for that through Work Redbridge.

Residents are also recommended to use the Turn 2 Us grants database to see what support they may be able to access.

Residents are urged to make the most of 2 great places to save money in the borough:

  1. Ilford Community Grocery Store. Join this grocery for £5 a year and you can buy 12 items for just £5. It is located at 25-29 Clements Rd, Ilford. For more details see: https://communitygrocery.org.uk/ilford/ 
  2. The TCL Reuse Centre sells refurbished furniture and white goods at very affordable prices. For more details see: https://www.tclreuse.org/buy/ 

What is the eligibility criteria for the Redbridge Household Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund is discretionary and assessed on a case-by-case basis. You will need to meet at least the following eligibility criteria to be considered for a payment:

  • You, or any member of your household must not have received any previous Household Support Fund awards. 
  • Applicants who are asylum seekers or have no recourse to public funds will, with proper ID, be considered on a case by case basis
  • You must be over 18
  • You must live in Redbridge, or
  • Reside in out of borough, temporary accommodation provided by Redbridge Council
  • You must not have household savings over £1000
  • You must demonstrate that you are in ‘financial crisis’ This can be defined as ‘an inability to meet essential payments out of disposable income or at all’. Examples include non-payments of essential bills or having to borrow further to repay existing debts.’

This is a discretionary award and the Council reserves the right to amend these criteria at any time.

How can I apply for the Household Support Fund? 

The online application process has now closed for the current period of the Household Support Fund.