Household Support Fund
Hampshire households facing financial difficulty will continue to receive support until the end of March 2026.
The Household Support Fund is a national programme, created during the cost-of-living crisis, to provide relief to those struggling to afford essential items such as food as well as recurring household bills.
To apply or for more information, please contact 01252 774420 or email hardship@hart.gov.uk
The Council will prioritise households in the most need based on guidelines provided by Hampshire County Council and local government. This means that not all applications will be approved automatically; instead, the Council will follow certain criteria to ensure the support goes to those who need it most.
Proof of hardship will be required when applying for assistance from the Household Support Fund. This means you will need to provide evidence of your financial difficulties, such as income details, bills or other documents showing that you are struggling to afford essential items like food, heating or housing.
Where eligible, housing support for rent must be provided through the housing cost element of Universal Credit or Housing Benefit. Also, eligibility for Discretionary Housing Payments must first be considered before emergency housing support is offered through this fund. The Council must also consider whether the claimant is at statutory risk of homelessness and therefore owed a duty of support through the Homelessness Prevention Grant.