The Council has received confirmation the Government has allocated £7.1m from its Household Support Fund to Leeds to help those in need with the costs of food, fuel, and other essentials between October 2024 and 31st March 2025.
- £3.2m of the funding will be allocated to residents in receipt of Council Tax Support (CTS). All households in receipt of CTS who are working age and pensioner households eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment will receive a direct case award of £40.
- Pensioner households in receipt of CTS but ineligible for a Winter Fuel Payment will receive a direct cash award of £150.
This is in recognition that these pensioner households remain on a low income as they are eligible for Council Tax Support but are not in receipt of Pension Credit or other qualifying benefit and, therefore, will not qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment for 2024-25.
- Cash awards will again be made via the Post Office Payout Scheme. Letters containing a barcode will be sent directly to households and these can be exchanged for cash at the Post Office upon provision of identification. This scheme has been used successfully during previous Household Support Fund initiatives.
- £1.65m will be made available for Third Sector organisations/charities to support vulnerable households not engaging with the council.
- £230k will help support the city’s Welcome Spaces Network ensuring vulnerable households are able to access a warm space alongside other sources of support. Welcome Spaces provide immediate help for those struggling with utility bills in the colder winter months as well as offering the opportunity for social engagement and signposting.
- The remaining funding will be split between crisis and emergency support; alleviating homelessness; and support for housing Leeds tenants in financial crisis.
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