Decision details

The purpose of the report sought approval for changes required to the Household Support Fund (HSF scheme previously approved for the 2025/26 financial year).

ORDERED that Executive approve the proposed changes, listed below, to the Household Support Fund (HSF) delivery plan for 2025/26 previously approved by Executive on 14 May 2025, which would be delivered between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, as set out in Table 1 (paragraph 4.9) of the report and that it continued to target the same main groups as before.

·         An increase of £10 per child for those in receipt of income based free school meals, Council Tax Reduction (CTR), Universal Credit (UC) or Housing Benefit (HB)

·         Widen the criteria for pensioner support to include all on CTR (previously had to have Pension Credit Guarantee Credit as well) and increase the payment from £50 to £100

·         Increase the amount provided to singles / couples in receipt of benefits from £45/£55 to £75/£100

·         An additional £38,000 to Community Support to assist with crisis applications

·         An additional £17,000 allocated to the provision of third-party support