Household Support Fund

Financial help for vulnerable residents in Wirral

Help is available for people in Wirral who are struggling with the cost of living.

The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) has given Wirral Council money to help local people. A total £6,098,690 has been provided by Household Support Fund for 12 months from July 2023. 

The council will continue to help people who are most vulnerable to increases in the cost of living. This work is done with local agencies, groups and organisations.

What support is available?

The financial support available includes: 

Emergency financial support schemes

Emergency financial support schemes enable Wirral residents to apply for emergency financial support. This is partly funded by the Household Support Fund. To be eligible you must be:

  • aged 16 or over
  • a Wirral resident or intending to be (that is, has accommodation secured)
  • requiring support to address your own essential needs or the needs of their dependants
  • able to demonstrate that you are unable to access any other timely resource or other ways of meeting this need which are considered reasonable
  • able to demonstrate that your health and safety, and that of your dependants, would be adversely affected if an award was not made

Search for emergency financial support

Find help with the cost of living

Check the Wirral Infobank website for more help 

How Wirral Council will spend the Household Support Fund

Below is a breakdown of how Wirral Council will spend the Household Support Fund. 

Small Grants Programme (£1,300,000)

This has previously included community-based food and welfare support groups. They were given grants of up to £20,000. This supports work to help ensure that food and essential items are available to those most in need.  

Early Years food, essential hampers during school holidays & Emergency School Food Pantries (£1,300,000)

Food and essentials hampers will be provided to eligible families.

School Emergency Food Pantries Fresh Food Provision (£186,000)

Working with the Schools Pantries. Providing 93 schools with £500 vouchers to buy and provide fresh food. This will complement the existing offer of dry and long-life goods.

Emergency Support Fund (£200,000)

Emergency financial assistance for local residents experiencing unexpected hardship or crisis.

Financial support with fuel and with fuel and water debt (£1,800,000)

Working in partnership with Wirral CAB and Energy Project Plus. We are supporting vulnerable residents who are unable to pay to heat and power their homes. People struggling to deal with fuel and water debt can apply for help. 

Energy Projects Plus (£46,000)

Heating and plumbing appliance repair and replacement for vulnerable low-income Wirral residents. 

Crisis support with white goods (£160,000)

In partnership with North Birkenhead Development Trust and St Vincent de Paul Society.

Housing Support Costs (£100,000)

Support with housing costs, in exceptional cases of genuine emergency. This applies where existing housing support schemes do not meet this exceptional need. 

Out of school activities - Holiday activities and food support (£150,000)

A national programme that supports children who are eligible for free school meals. Support will cover the spring, summer and winter holiday periods. Over the previous summer and winter, over 43 clubs and activity venues ran over the holidays. The household support fund is funding the food element of the project. 

Support for recipients of Housing Benefit (£30,000)

This is for a very small number of households who receive Housing Benefit. It is for those that receive no other benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Care Leavers Food Pantry (£67,600)

Funding to enable the Food Pantry to buy fresh food. This will complement the existing offer of dry and long-life goods.

Quality of Life Support for Over 65s (£100,000)

Working with Age UK this grant will allow Over 65s to support several projects across Wirral. 

Support for Vulnerable Families (£500,000). Our early help offer is non-statutory. It is delivered with community voluntary and faith organisations across the Wirral.