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We’re set to receive more than £2.3m through the Household Support Fund to help vulnerable families, pensioners, children eligible for free school meals, those ‘just managing’, and third-party organisations such as the Fuel Bank, Handy Person Service, Citizens Advice Bureau and Salvation Army.
The funding will support vulnerable residents with increasing energy and water costs, food, wider essential services such as phone and broadband, clothing, white goods, transport and housing costs, in cases of genuine emergency.
We want to do everything we can to help North Somerset residents who may be struggling as bills continue to increase and cost of living pressures remain.
If you need help or support, please get in touch.
The funding will be split in different ways:
- an automatic £50 food voucher will be given more than 12,500 residents between June and January next year, to all working age council tax reduction (CTR) claimants, all pension age CTR claimants, residents with severe mental impairment, housing benefit claimants not receiving CTR, and all care leavers
- a £100 food voucher will be distributed in June to about 5,200 children and young people receiving free school meals
- a council tax reduction hardship fund totalling £100,000 is being created to provide support to households negatively impacted by the change from a council tax support scheme to the council tax reduction scheme. The new, simpler CTR scheme makes it easier for residents to understand their entitlements. While the overall budget allocated for council tax support remains the same, some residents will see their support remain the same while others will see a potential increase or decrease
- grant allocations of £140,000 will be made to the Handy Person Service (£20,000), Salvation Army (£10,000), Fuel Bank (£30,000), Citizen Advice Bureau Fuel Support (£30,000), and an extension of the FirstSteps Scheme via CAB (£50,000) who can help support those in need. A further £10,000 will support the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and For All Healthy Living Company
- another £220,000 is being set aside for residents who are financially vulnerable and ‘just about managing’ but don’t meet one of the other categories. Requests to access this fund can be made online
- finally, another £70,000 will be used to provide sustainable items, such as white goods and bedding, through an extension to the existing Welfare Support Scheme). The amount of help via the Welfare Provision Scheme will depend on individual circumstances. Applications can be made by calling 01934 888 035 or 0800 138 5665 (10am to 4pm Monday to Friday).
Visit our website for a round-up of local advice and guidance, including help with bills, childcare costs, food support, housing, energy and heating and more.