Families in Salford to receive extended support for food and energy costs

Lower-income families in Salford will be supported by the Household Support Fund for another six months following the government’s latest announcement.

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced a £500 million extension of its HSF, which has now been extended for the fourth time.

The Chancellor announced new measures at #Budget2024:

– #NationalInsurance cut to make work pay more
– #HouseholdSupportFund extended by an extra £500m for councils in England to support the vulnerable
– Additional Jobcentre Support pilot for #UniversalCredit extended

1/7 pic.twitter.com/dz3GIWT73z

— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) March 7, 2024

Just a week before the announcement, Salford City Council released a plea for the government to extend the “vital” funding.

In a statement on Friday, March 1st, Salford City Council said the funding had supported more than 18,000 Salford residents in paying food, water and energy bills.

Salford was previously given £5.4 million out of the HSF fund, which also went towards funding holiday food vouchers for children eligible for Free School Meals; Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners to deliver food banks, food clubs and food schemes; and other areas of the council such as housing, adult social care, welfare rights and debt advice.

A report by Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) found that the fund “provided a vital lifeline to [Salford] residents experiencing financial difficulties” and that the loss of the funding would have had a “significant” impact on Salford City Council’s ability to support the city’s residents.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride, said: “The long term decisions announced by the Chancellor will put £900 back in the pockets of 27 million employees this year and support the equivalent of 200,000 people into work, when taken together with the next generation of welfare reforms we’re already rolling out.

“Our plan is building a brighter future for millions of people.”

The application deadline for round four of the HSF is Sunday, March 31 2024.

To apply, click here.