Household Support Fund
Household Support Fund 7 (HSF) was delivered until 31 March 26 by City of York Council using central government scheme funding to support our vulnerable households in most need of help & support with significantly rising living costs. The funding covered
• Payments to residents
• Talk Money campaign
• Community benefit advisers
• Grant funding to VCS partners
• Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT)
• CYC Food & Fuel voucher scheme – See annex ?
Payments to residents
Support was provided through two routes
Route 1 – Two direct payments
Two direct payments were made to residents identified by City of York Councils Revenues & Benefits Team as working age receiving Council Tax Support and those receiving
- SMI disregard,
- Carers Council Tax discount
- Disability-related Banding Reduction
The first payment of £100 was applied direct to the customers Council Tax account in June 25.
The second winter payment of £100 was paid directly into the resident’s bank account from 15 September 25.
Route 2 - Discretionary applications
The discretionary scheme was open to York residents in need of financial assistance and who were not eligible for the direct payments above.
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York
Talk Money Campaigns
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York Talk Money Campaign aims to break down barriers and make it easier for people to find out about where to get good information, advice and support around money.
We want to make sure people are
1. Getting all the help they are entitled to
2. Reduce their outgoings as much as possible
3. Get advice if they need assistance
Providing up to date online information
- www.york.gov.uk/benefitscalculator
- www.livewellyork.co.uk/talkmoney
Providing promotional leaflets including
- 'Worrying About Money?' and Here to help widely available in community venues, Explore Library’s and via advice and support workers, etc.
City-wide campaign 3 times a year
- Monday 7 July to Friday 18 July 25
-
Monday
3 November to Friday 14 November 25
(incl National Talk Money Week)
- Monday 2 February to Friday 13 February 26
These include online promotion, promotion of ongoing support and specific events. Supported by a partner toolkit to provide
• Copy for your newsletters / intranets
• Social media graphics
• Text for social media posts to copy and paste
• Links to further
information, online tools, sources of advice.
Low Income Family Tracker
The LIFT platform is intelligent data analytics software that helps local authorities to maximise resident's income and reduce their costs.
We have used the LIFT platform to identify and contact residents who may be eligible for additional benefits or who are in debt to offer advice and support, including
- Migration to UC
- Council Tax debt
- Healthy Start
- WaterSure
CYC - Community Benefit Advisers
The HSF has funded two advisers from May 25.
They have delivered 10 weekly outreach drop-in advice sessions, plus additional sessions at SEND Central, St Leonards Hospice, and Talk Money Campaign events.
|
Day and times |
Venue |
|
Tuesdays, |
Marjorie Waite Court, Evelyn Crescent, Clifton, YO30 6DX |
|
Tuesdays, |
Community Café, St Wulstan Church, 48 Fossway, Heworth, YO31 8SL |
|
Wednesdays, |
CYC Community Housing Office, 217 Lindsey Avenue, Holgate, YO26 4RL |
|
Thursdays, |
St Pauls Church, Holgate Road, York, YO24 4BF |
|
Thursdays, |
Planet Food pay-as-you-feel café and food store, Southlands Cmty Ctre, Bishopthorpe Road, YO23 1NX |
|
Fridays, 9.30am to 10.30am |
Advice Hub, Tang Hall Community Centre, Fifth Ave, Tang Hall, YO31 0UG |
|
Fridays, |
Community Furniture Store, Unit 29, The Raylor Centre, James Street, YO10 3DW |
|
Monthly - 1st Monday 10.00am to 1.00pm |
St Sampsons Centre, Church Street, York, YO1 8BE |
|
Tuesdays, |
Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road, YO23 1BQ |
|
Fridays, |
Foxwood Community Centre, Cranfield Place, YO24 3HY |
They have followed up LIFT campaign letters on Council Tax Arrears, Pension Credit and Health Start.
E.g. For the Council Tax arrears mailings they followed up 591 households to offer advice and support.
|
No. |
Outcome |
|
52 |
Did not want/need help |
|
19 |
Already had/having help from another organisation |
|
63 |
Happy to help themselves (online/phone) |
|
19 |
Noted drop in for future but not currently in need |
|
71 |
Follow
up appointment made |
|
351 |
No contact – Voice message or emails sent |
|
16 |
No contact – answer phone or email available |
They provided detailed advice and support to 250 residents.
- Assisted 243 benefit and other grant applications
|
PC |
DLA child |
PIP |
AA |
CTS |
HB |
YFAS |
CT - SPD |
UC |
DHP |
HSF |
Other |
Total |
|
26 |
3 |
50 |
6 |
25 |
13 |
5 |
8 |
22 |
4 |
25 |
56 |
243 |
-
These
have resulted in yearly financial gains totalling
£824,990
an average of £3299.96 per person
- 30 referrals made to other services for additional support: Citizens Advice York, Local Area Coordinators, Housing Support, National Energy Action, Gamcare and DisHAS
Grants to other VCS advice and support services
|
HSF 6 & 7 - 25/6 |
|
|
York Energy Advice – Energy efficiency measures |
£20,000 |
|
Citizens Advice York – Community Debt Advice |
£54,000 |
|
York Learning - Digital inclusion coordinator June 25 - May 27 |
£50,000 |
|
Older Peoples Advocacy York – Benefits advocacy for over 50’s September 24 – September 25 and January 26 – December 27 |
£50,000 |
|
Age UK York - Benefits Advice for Pensioners May 25 - April 26 |
25,000 |
|
Peasholme Charity - Benefits Advice January 2025 - December 2025 |
25,000 |