Around 40,000 households will get extra support this summer to help with essential food and energy bills.
The fifth round of the Government’s Household Support Fund is worth £5.6 million to cover six months — April to September — and will be administered by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with borough and district councils.
One-off summer payments, each worth around £100 per household will continue to support families with children entitled to free school meals as well as other households and individuals with rising costs.
Plans to share the funds include:
•£1.55million to be shared among approximately 19,000 households with children in receipt of free school meals, or with children five or under with an equivalent eligibility.
•£1.55million is due to distributed among approximately 15,500 households where one or more person receives or is eligible for Pension Credit.
•£1.55million to be shared among any other households impacted with rising costs, particularly those who may not be eligible for other government support, and additional £300,000 is set aside to help buy white goods for those who can’t afford appliances like an oven or fridge. Applications for this share of the funds will be via a referral from a front-line worker such as housing officers, social workers or benefit teams.
•£250,000 used as discretionary housing payments to help those at risk of being homeless.
•£75,000 invested into Citizens Advice to help it continue its essential advice and support service for residents across the county.
The first set of payments are expected later this summer.
Families in receipt of free school meals or Pension Credit will be contacted directly by the county council with details of how to apply for a seasonal payment. Front-line workers will help identify other households most in need via a referral process.
Gordon Wheeler, deputy cabinet member for communities and public health said: “It is good news that the government has extended this funding for a further six months.
“Working with a wide range of partners, we will once again make sure this funding goes to those who need it the most, including those who may not be eligible for other government support and are in need of essential items such as ovens and fridges.
“Given the high level of help, support, guidance provided by Citizens Advice to many residents impacted by rising costs, £75,000 is being invested into this charity organisation to help them to continue this vital work.
“Later this summer we will be in direct contact with those who are eligible for this financial support, so we thank everyone in advance for their patience.”
For the fourth round of the Household Support Fund, which ended on 31 March, the support provided included:
•£3.3million worth of support which benefitted more than 19,000 families with children eligible for free school meals or equivalent.
•More than £2.5million distributed to help more than 15,000 vulnerable people of a pensionable age.
•Front line workers helped identify more than 7,000 households most in need, particularly those not eligible for other government help. Support worth over £350k was allocated on a referral basis plus an additional £600,000 was spent providing basic white good items such as ovens and fridges to those who can’t afford to buy them or have them replaced.
•£500,000 used as discretionary housing payments to help those at risk of being homeless.
