Purpose

On 02 September 2024 the
Government announced a further Household Support Fund to support
those most in need. The grant will run from 01 October 2024 to 31
March 2025 and East Sussex County Council has been allocated
£3,896,783.88. The Department for Work and Pensions has set
out how the scheme should be allocated. The criteria have changed
slightly from previous funds.
 
East Sussex County Council have
allocated Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC)
£194,235.00 to provide
support to vulnerable households and cover EBC’s
administration costs. The scheme will close when the allocation is
spent, or on 31 March 2025, whichever happens first. 
 
East Sussex County Council and
the District and Borough Councils within East Sussex have worked
together to design a county-wide scheme.
 
The scheme criteria is at
appendix 1.
 
The main qualifying criterion
is that the resident is on a low income but have not been included
in the government’s Winter Fuel Allowance payments, they are
likely to be among the most financially vulnerable yet would not
receive the additional funding from the government. If spend is not
at the levels expected, and as any unspent funds at 31 December
2024 have to be returned to government, we will look to revise this
criterion and open up the scheme to more residents. 
 
The fund will be aimed, at
least initially, to support residents who are struggling to pay
their utility bills for energy and water. 
 

Content

(1) To approve the Local
Authority’s Household Support Fund 6 Policy.
 
(2) To grant the Assistant
Director of Revenues and Benefits delegated authority, to
implement, and if necessary, amend the Policy (in consultation with
the Leader). Such delegated authority will include any measures
necessary for or incidental to its management and
administration.