The entitlement criteria for automatic payments from the Household Support Fund is changing.
In order to be entitled to a payment from the Household Support Fund scheme in 2024, you must be responsible for at least one child and on 3rd June 2024 either:
- be entitled to Council Tax Support or
- have been placed in emergency accommodation by the Council
You will receive £80 per child. If you are already in receipt of Council Tax Support, then you don’t have to do anything else – you will receive your payment automatically.
To find out if you are eligible for Council Tax Support, please check the information here https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators .
You can make a claim for Council Tax Support by using this link https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/council-tax-support/apply-for-council-tax-support/
It is important that you submit your application by 31st May 2024.
You may also be entitled to help from the Household Support Fund via one of the Household Support Fund partners. Their details can be found here https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/household-support-fund/
Why have we made this change?
Because entitlement to Free school meals has been protected since 2018, parents of children who are entitled to free school meals aren’t always still on a low income. By using our Council Tax Support data, we can ensure that the Household Support Fund awards are going to parents who currently have a low income and are struggling with the increased costs of running their home. By better targeting the awards, we are able to help families with children of any age, rather than just school age children.
Families of children in receipt of free school meals can still access help through the Time2Move holiday programme. This scheme offers fun physical activities, games and wider activities plus a meal for all children during the main school holiday periods.