Household Support Fund

London Borough of Waltham Forest has been allocated £2.3million from the Department of Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund to support vulnerable households facing a rise in energy bills and the cost of living. The funding is available from 1 April 2024 and must be spent by 30 September 2024. 

For further information on the Government’s Cost of Living support please visit Cost of Living.

The Household Support Fund gives those who qualify help towards food, energy, water and other essential items.

Part of the funding will be distributed through the Local Welfare Assistance (LWA) scheme which will be amended to reflect this additional source of funding and the resulting changes on eligibility criteria.

This additional funding is to support households who would otherwise struggle to buy food or pay for essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs. 

For further information visit  Waltham Forest's Local Welfare Assistance / Household Support Funds, where you can apply for this help by completing the application form.

London Borough of Waltham Forest will continue to deliver face-to-face information, advice, and guidance (IAG) services to residents in a range of locations across the borough offering guidance on available help within the Household Support Funded schemes as well as through other methods. 

This fund will support Community Living Rooms providing welcoming spaces in which people can relax or socialise as well as visit to seek advice or guidance on available cost of living support, council services and voluntary sector support. 

The Household Support Fund will contribute funding directly to local food banks and assistance to our Community Partners to provide wider essentials such as baby products, period products and winter items. For more information on the support available through Community Partners visit the Council's Cost of Living Support.

The Household Support Fund enables the Council to extend support to families and individuals that need additional financial support. 

Families eligible for benefits related free school meals, based on low income, and attending a school or nursery in Waltham Forest, will get Eden Red vouchers that can be used at most supermarkets. These will be distributed through your child’s school in July 2024 for the summer holidays. For further information about benefits related free school meals please visit Free School Meals for details on eligibility and how to apply.

Primary Schools in Waltham Forest will be given funding for the Breakfast for Learning scheme to enable them to identify and support those children most affected by the cost of living crisis. Schools are using the funding to supplement free breakfasts already provided within the school, as well as setting up new provisions, including a wide range of hot and cold food available before school and 'grab and go' snack items that can be picked up during the morning.

Families with children aged 0 to 19 and up to 25 with a disability supported by the Early Help Service, will be awarded supermarket vouchers issued through Eden Red and/or direct cash awards to help with food and energy and water bills. For further information on Early Help and Prevention Service visit Early Help and Support for Families.

Families with children aged 0 to 17 supported by Children’s Social Care will get supermarket vouchers, issued through Eden Red, to the value of £75 per household to help with food costs and costs linked to energy and water bills.

Young Carers age 18 or under being supported by Early Help and Children’s Social Care services will get grants of up to £350 to help with essentials linked to food and energy and water costs. For further information on Young Carers and how to get support visit Young Carers.

Care Leavers aged 16 to 24 who are leaving our care will receive supermarket vouchers, issued through Eden Red, to value of £75 to help with food and costs linked to energy and water. For more information on what support is available for Care Leavers visit Care Leavers Offer.

Adult carers who live in or care for someone who lives in Waltham Forest will be eligible for support, and further details on this will be added to this page by July 2024.