There are many ways you can find support to help yourself and your family as household costs rise
Help with the Cost of Living
There are many ways you can find support to help yourself and your family as household costs rise.
The Government has extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) for another twelve months. From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, £742 million worth of funding is available to councils.
The Government has confirmed the funding amount for Dudley Council will be £4.6 million.
The fund is to provide support to households experiencing financial hardship or crisis. The fund helps to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential living or housing costs. It should be for people in exceptional cases of genuine emergency. The Fund may also be used to prevent poverty and build local resilience.
To make it easier for residents to get support, we are sharing most of the Fund with support teams and community and voluntary groups. They will use the money to provide wider support for local people.
You cannot apply for the Household Support Fund Online Application Scheme right now. We will let you know on this page when it opens again. Please look at the other areas of household support on this webpage.
More Information
When the scheme opens again, you can apply for a one-time payment. Only a small part of the fund is used for these online applications.
If you do not get the payment, don’t worry. There are other ways to get help. Look at the other help options on this webpage. Help is available from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Who Can Get the Payment
You can apply if:
You live in Dudley
You have less than £3,000 in savings
Your household earns less than £40,000 a year (or less than £30,000 if you live alone)
You can show that this money will help you avoid money problems
What Happens After You Apply
We will check your form to make sure everything is correct. If you are successful, you will get £250 in your bank account. It may take 2 to 4 weeks. Please do not call the Council to ask about your application during this time.
Dudley Council support
The following services have received Household support Fund to help people in crisis from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
The government assists the most vulnerable households with the high cost of energy through a number of payment schemes.
There is also local help from the council’s Dudley Energy Advice Line (DEAL), which offers information, advice and support. Help in a crisis may include:
Temporary heating
Fuel vouchers
Heated blankets
DEAL helps residents understand bills and with fuel debt, assists with energy efficiency and can support you to apply for grants, plus access funding for insulation measures and replacement heating systems.
Adult Social Care is the term given to the care and support that people may need to help them live the life they choose. From equipment, to home adaptions, to home care, support and other services.
Some support covers a short-term service to help people get back on their feet after an illness or hospital stay. Or they may have longer term care and support needs.
If you are worried you may lose your home because you are struggling to afford your rent or mortgage payments, seek advice early to get help and advice.
Dudley Family Hubs have received a small amount of Household Support Fund to support families with children who are under 5. If you need further support, please contact your local family hub. Eligibility criteria will apply.
Dudley schools have received a small amount of Household Support Fund to help with their school hardship fund. You can access this by talking to the school your children attend. Eligibility criteria will apply.
Voluntary sector support
We have worked with Dudley CVS to reach further residents who are vulnerable. So, some charities have received money from the Household Support Fund.
Charities may supply things such as household items, food packages, baby items and education / employment / interview support, but only with a referral from a professional.
If you have a support worker or you are already supported by the service, you can ask for Household Support, dependent on your needs.
We cannot guarantee that you will receive the funding through these charities as eligibility criteria will apply.
Supports with home starter packs, community supermarket, education and employment.
Black Country Foodbank assists vulnerable residents who are struggling to buy food; however, you need a food bank voucher from a professional to access support.
The warehouse is open Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm
Black Country Foodbank Albion Street Brierley Hill DY5 3EE
Barnardo’s will be directly supporting Dudley’s vulnerable children and their families within their service. The service provides 1-1 therapeutic support and awareness sessions for young people who are at medium to high risk of CSE within Dudley.
Barnado's Support
Barnardo’s provides a wide range of support to young people this includes:
Dudley Children in Care resilience service- (referrals only through Virtual School)
Dudley Advocacy service for children in care – (referrals from everyone)
Dudley First Steps – counselling for child victims of sexual abuse- (referrals from everyone)
Dudley BASE -support for victims of child sexual exploitation- (referrals only through children’s social care)
Dudley MARAC -1-1 support for child victims of domestic abuse heard at MARAC (referrals through MARAC only)
Dudley Safer Accommodation – 1-1 support for child victims of domestic abuse that are now in safer accommodation (referrals through CHADD and housing)
Please note: Household Support from this service is only available if you are already being supported by Barnardo’s
To make a referral for a young person to access any of the services above use the contact details below.
Families of children from conception to age two can access guidance and support on a range of topics through Start for Life, which is delivered as part of Dudley’s Family Hub Network
Dudley Holiday Activities provides free school holiday activities and food for children aged 5 – 16 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and other vulnerable groups
The Department of Work and Pensions allocate a 5% administration cost. In previous funds Dudley and its partners has been within this allocation.
The Government's 2024 Spring budget extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) for another 6 months. Known as Household Support Fund 5 (HSF5), it covered 1 April to 30 September 2024, with Dudley receiving £2,625,519.
The Government's 2024 Autumn budget extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) for another 6 months. Known as Household Support Fund 6 (HSF6), it covered 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, with Dudley receiving £2,625,519.
