We have reopened the application process for for the remaining £56,921, for households experiencing financial difficulties who have not received either a previous Household Support Fund payment and/or Cost of Living Payment.

Cost of Living Payments include:
Cost of living payments (£650)
Energy Bills Support Scheme (£400 utility payments)
Previous Household Support Fund awards
Council Tax rebate (£150)
Winter Fuel Payment (£300)
Disability Cost of Living Payment (£150)

The application process is available to provide short-term financial support to meet immediate needs and help those who are struggling to afford food, energy and water bills, and other related essentials this winter who have not been supported with other cost of living payments. The application process will not be awarding cash to applicants. Support will be provided for payment of goods/food vouchers etc.

Households that have received the £650 cost of living payment either through direct payment from the DWP or through part of this overarching scheme will not be considered for a payment under this initial open application process. 

Professional referrals from our officers will be considered for families who have received the £650 payment but are homeless and have exceptional circumstances for consideration. Please note, the fund cannot be used to pay rent or mortgage arrears or for other goods/services covered by another funding stream.

Households who have previously received Household Support Fund payments in addition to other cost of living payments will not have applications awarded unless there are very exceptional circumstances.

The scheme runs until 31 March 2023 and is designed to help ease financial pressure on residents to support those most in need this winter with escalating costs of living and in particular, energy cost increases.

We recognise that we cannot predict every challenge that residents may face, so we will be accepting applications for other essential types of support which cannot be budgeted for, and which deliver on the aims of this scheme. These items will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Who is eligible?

Our eligibility criteria, balances supporting as many residents as we can with targeting our limited funds, to support those who need our help the most.

Applicants must:

1. Be over the age of 16; and
2. Live in the Teignbridge District (as your main residence); and
3. Be without sufficient resources to meet the immediate short-term needs of themselves or dependents.
4. Have not received support through previous Household Support Fund awards
5. Have not received cost of living payments of £600 or more (exceptional circumstances may be considered where the application is made by a professional
such as social worker, NHS professional, Revenue and Benefits Team or Housing Caseworker or if funds remain from 1 March for direct applications)

What will not be awarded?

Not every application will be awarded. The scheme will not award:

Mortgage support - however homeowners could still qualify for the other elements of the Fund (such as food, energy, water, essentials linked to energy and water and wider essentials). Where a homeowner is having difficulty with their mortgage payments, they should contact their lender as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances as lenders will have a set procedure to assist.

Households that have already received support from household support fund payments and other cost of living payments unless there are very exceptional circumstances and have been referred by a Teignbridge District Council officer who has completed an income and expenditure assessment and has provided detailed reason for exceptional circumstances.