Warning: Scam Winter Fuel Payment Texts
Scammers are sending fake texts about winter fuel payments. They pretend to be from the government. These texts ask for your bank details.
We will never text or call you to ask for personal details like bank details.
If you get a suspicious text, report it to Action Fraud.
The Household Support Fund provides crisis support to households most in need. It offers financial help to vulnerable households that may be more severely affected by the cost-of-living crisis. The scheme is funded by the UK Government.
This fund will be available between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025.
Support for families with children eligible for free school meals
The scheme will help around 46,200 children in Manchester. It includes:
- a £15 payment for each eligible child for the 2024/25 October half-term.
- a £30 payment for each eligible child for the 2024/25 Christmas holiday.
- A £15 payment for each eligible child for the 2024/25 February half-term.
- £190,000 for a Holiday Activity Fund for the October and February half-term holidays.
All free school meal payments will be distributed by Manchester schools. Arrangements will be made with other Greater Manchester councils for children attending school outside the Manchester area. The funding includes pupils in school nursery classes and sixth forms.
Support for care leavers
Care leavers under the age of 25 and living in their own tenancies, will receive:
- £10 a week for up to 26 weeks to top up their income.
Payment will be administered by the Leaving Care Team.
Support for households receiving specific benefits
We'll provide financial support to residents in these groups:
Group 1
£100 to households receiving Council Tax Support where at least one person receives a disability benefit – such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and are not included in either group 2 or 3.
Group 2
£150 to households not included in group 1, receiving Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit, who have not qualified for a government Winter Fuel Payment based on their income and were aged 66 to 79 on 23 September 2024.
Group 3
£200 to households not included in groups 1 and 2, receiving Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit, who have not qualified for a government Winter Fuel Payment based on their income and were aged 80 or over on 23 September 2024.
Only one Household Support Fund payment will be made to each eligible household.
Payments
If you're eligible and pay council tax by direct debit, the payment will go into your bank account automatically. It will go to the bank account used to pay the direct debit.
If you pay council tax in cash (by PayPoint, standing order, bank transfer or online) or have no council tax to pay, you'll get a Post Office Payout voucher by post. It can be cashed at any Post Office.
We'll make payments to bank accounts in late-November 2024. Post Office Payout vouchers will be sent over two weeks starting in late-November. We'll update this page to confirm the dates.
Other parts of the fund
Other funding will include:
- £200,000 for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to allocate.
- £20,000 for our Welfare Provision Scheme – support for energy and household costs in a crisis.
Winter Fuel Payment hardship fund
A Winter Fuel Payment hardship fund has been created to provide support for pension-age residents who have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and will not receive a Winter Fuel Payment from the Government.
Funding:
- £150 for those aged 66 to 79 and
- £200 for those aged 80 and over.
Find out more about eligibility and how to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment hardship fund
Applying for general support
Awards for Household Support Funding will be based on the same financial criteria used by the Welfare Provision Scheme.
From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the Welfare Provision Scheme may give two payments (not one) in a 12-month period. If we approve a second award within 12 months, the additional award will be funded by the Household Support Fund.
Vulnerable residents can get emergency help for utility bills and other essential needs from the Welfare Provision Scheme.
If you need urgent help, complete the Welfare Provision Scheme application form and choose 'other reason' as the reason for assistance.
Awards will be funded by the Household Support Fund.
If you'd like to contact us, use our Household Support Fund contact form.
