Household Support Fund
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Applications for this round of the Household Support Fund have now closed.
Applications that have already been submitted will be considered, provided all relevant information has been received. These applications will be processed in the order they were received.
Although the UK government announced an extension of the fund last year, Lancaster City Council have not yet received any official confirmation in writing.
Please continue to check our web page for updates on the funding status.
Household Support Fund FAQs
What documents do I need to supply?
You will need to provide at least one month of recent bank statements for all adults within the household. Alongside this we will also need a full breakdown of your universal credit statement.
For any support with Utilities we will also require:
If you pay your energy bill by direct debit we will require a copy of the front and back page of your most recent bill showing:
- balance owed
- account number
- confirmation of what type of meter you have installed
If you pay your energy bill on Pre-Payment meters we will need a statement of top ups from the provider.
If you have arrears on your energy bills we will require a copy of the bill showing the arrears, payments you have made towards these arrears and payment details for your supplier
If you need help with obtaining your bank statement, click here. (PDF, 410KB)
How do I provide a Universal Credit Statement?
If you receive part of your income from Universal Credit, we will need to see evidence of this. If you're unsure on how to get a statement for this, please follow the steps below:
1. Log in to your Universal Credit account here.
2. Go to the Payments page.
3. Click on the latest statement.
4. The statement will appear on your screen.
5. You can then select the option to 'Print to PDF' or 'Save as PDF'
How do I provide the financial documents?
The best way to do this is to upload the documents through the application or if you are unable to do this email through to hsf@lancaster.gov.uk.
You can also provide your financial information directly at Morecambe Town Hall or Lancaster Town Hall Monday to Friday 9am - 4.30pm.
Can I appeal a decision if my application is unsuccessful?
As this is a discretionary scheme there is no right of appeal. However, if you think we have overlooked important information then you can ask for us to look at the application again by emailing hsf@lancaster.gov.uk providing reasons along with your name, address and reference number.
This decision will be final.
How long will my application take?
Applicants can expect to be contacted within 10 working days of submitting a fully completed application containing all the required information. Please do not chase up your application within this time frame. Citizens Advice will then contact you to arrange an appointment that suits yourself. Once this has been completed, we will aim to ensure any support is distributed within 5 working days of the assessment.
Do I have to have an assessment over the phone?
If you would like to have an appointment that is in person for any reason, please specify this on the notes section of your application and we can see what can be done for you.
Can I apply if I have already applied to the Lancaster District Hardship Fund or a previous round of Household Support Fund?
Applications can be submitted if you have previously applied to either of the previous rounds of support.
We are unable to accept an application if you have received support within the previous 6 month period.
Only one application will be considered throughout Round 7 (April 1st 2025 -March 31st 2026)
All re-applications will consider the level of support you have already received and whether you fully engaged with Citizens Advice before a decision is made on any new applications. If there has not been engagement with support that has been offered we may request this to be done prior to accepting the application.
Can I apply more than once?
We will only accept one application per household. If you or someone else has applied already from your household the support will have been offered with all residents of the address in mind.
Other local support available for residents
Find out what support is available with the Lancaster District to help local residents with the cost of living.
Other Government funded support for households
Cost of Living Support (GOV.UK)
Find out what support is available to help with the cost of living. This includes income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.
Help for Households (GOV.UK)
We know people are worried so the government is offering help for households. Find out cost of living support you could be eligible for.
Cost of Living Grants (Royal British Legion)
The Royal British Legion's Cost of Living Grants Programme is designed to allow the legion to assist people who need help in a quick and easy way with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs.
This programme is open to anyone who is eligible for their support and struggling to pay for items and services they need.