The Household Support Fund

The Council has received an additional £2.67 million from the Department of Work and Pensions to support vulnerable residents with the cost of food and utility bills. This is the third phase of the Household Support Fund and covers the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

In accordance with the government’s guidance, the fund will be distributed to residents in the following groups:

Families with children receiving free school meals

Households with children receiving free school meals will receive £15 per week for each child receiving free school meals. Families will receive a total of £60 for each child and cover 4 weeks of school holidays – Autumn half-term, two weeks at Christmas and the Spring half-term.

The support will be distributed by schools who will issue vouchers directly to parents. If your child receives free school meals and you have a query about your support under the Household Support Fund, please contact your child’s school directly.

Households who have not received a cost of living payment from central government

There are a number of households receiving Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction on 1 November 2022 who did not receive any of the cost of living payments made by central government. These are:

• Cost of living payment                                                                £650
• Elderly enhanced cost of living payment                                    £300
• Disabled enhanced cost of living payment                                 £150

We already have the details of these households and have written to them to confirm their award and how to receive the support through the Post Office. There is no need to contact us as we will write directly to all those who qualify.

We will be updating this page with details on when we will be distributing the remainder of the fund in the New Year when need will be at its highest. Please make sure you check for further updates.

Those in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction where the claimant or partner is disabled

We are writing to those working age households where on 12 January 2023 the claimant or partner were in receipt of the following;

• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement
• The limited capacity for work and the limited capacity for work-related activity element within the Universal Credit award

We already have the details of these households and have written to them to confirm their award and how to receive the support through the Post Office. There is no need to contact us as we will write directly to all those who qualify.

If you have trouble cashing the payment please email us at: CWGS@lewisham.gov.uk 

We will be updating this page with details of when we will be distributing the remainder of the fund. Please make sure you check for further updates.