-

Round 4 of the Household Support Fund (HSF) will reopen for applications at 10am on Thursday 2 November 2023 for low-income households in the Dorset Council area.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given local authorities funding to support residents throughout the year. In Dorset, this support is in the form of supermarket vouchers and applications open each month for eligible households.

Citizens Advice will be allocating this fund on behalf of Dorset Council and vouchers will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within 6 – 8 weeks.

Dorset Council households will be able to apply if they have:

  • an annual household net income of less than £30,000 and savings of less than £16,000 and
  • not applied for a previous HSF payment within the last 6 months
  • Calculations for the annual net income should not include Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance or Child Benefit. Applications are limited to one per household.

Cllr Laura Beddow, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Culture, Communities and Customer Services said:

“Round 4 of the Household Support Fund is here to provide a helping hand to low-income households in the Dorset Council area. Starting on 2 November, we’re reopening this support that offers supermarket vouchers to those in need. We’re committed to ensuring our community’s needs are met.

“If you do miss out on this window, another will open on Tuesday 5 December at 10am.”

Residents should apply online. The application form will open at 10am. Find more details including future application window dates here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/household-support-fund