Household Support Fund
Important notice
From April 2026 to March 2029, the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments will be replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Government funding will be available for the Council to support low-income households who encounter a financial shock and to support activity that builds individual and community financial resilience.
More information will be available as details are confirmed.
This funding has been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions to support those most in need in the Borough of Swindon.
The funding can help households with the cost of food, energy and wider essentials.
The latest phase of this funding will cover the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Some of this funding is allocated directly to eligible households while some will be distributed to local partners to help people using their services.
Some examples of what the funding in Swindon is being used for are:
- food vouchers for eligible families during school holidays
- funding for local organisations to help residents with food and energy bill support
Recipients are either automatically identified or will access the support through specific partners. If you have not received support through these routes, there may be help available through our Application Fund.
How do I qualify for the Household Support Fund?
If you have experienced an unexpected expense which affects your ability to meet the cost of energy, food or other essential bills, or are struggling to afford to run your home, you may be eligible for assistance through our Application Fund.
Please use the application form to apply.
Important update
Due to a nationwide increase in fraudulent applications for the Household Support Fund, we must request specific information. Without this we will be unable to progress applications.
Please ensure you provide the following information as part of your application:
- Two months of bank statements for every bank account held by each adult in the household
- Evidence of a breakdown of any benefits received by adults in the household
- Photo identification
- Proof of address
If you do not submit the required supporting documentation, your application will be refused and you will have to apply again.
If your application is accepted, you will receive a one-off payment for the period up to 31 March 2026.
Please note: This payment will be in the form of a voucher, the Council will not ask for any bank details to make this payment once the application is submitted, nor will it ask residents to pay any money to consider any application. If you receive any communication asking you to do so please be assured it is not from the Council and can be ignored. We are aware fraudsters may operate in this way.
If you have any difficulty completing this application online, contact our Customer Services team on 01793 445500 and they will be able to assist you.. Alternatively, you can get face-to-face help at any of our core libraries.
Please note: This is not an emergency response fund. Applications will take some time to consider. Please do not contact the Council to ask what is happening with your application as this only causes further delays. If you are struggling to afford enough food, call Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7813 between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday to discuss options, based on your circumstances, which could include a referral to the food bank in Swindon.
There is also further advice if you are struggling with the cost of living.
The Government Cost of Living Hub also has a lot of useful information on help with your energy bills.