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Cost of living support

We understand the challenges many are facing with the rising cost of energy and essential food items. You are not alone.

Visit our Cambridgeshire support with the cost of living page to discover a range of financial support resources to help you and your family.

Visit the Central Government cost of living support pages for advice and guidance on managing bills, coping with rising costs, and sources of financial support

Household Support Fund end

The Household Support Fund (HSF) has ended. Crisis support remains available through Citizen’s Advice Bureau which can be found at Cambridge City or South Cambridgeshire Citizen Advice Bureau  and East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Huntingdonshire Citizen Advice Bureau.

Local support services

There are many support agencies across the county who offer help for a range of challenges individuals may face.  You can contact these support agencies directly for advice and help.

Crisis and Resilience Fund

The government has announced a new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which will run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. This multi‑year funding provided by the Department for Work and Pensions aims to support low‑income households experiencing financial shocks and build longer-term resilience. For more information visit Crisis and Resilience Fund (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029) - GOV.UK.

Holiday Voucher Scheme

Through the HSF, the Holiday Voucher Scheme provided supermarket vouchers to households eligible for Free School Meals to support them during school holidays between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. This scheme is ending nationally in line with the Household Support Fund ending.

In Cambridgeshire, we will continue to provide holiday vouchers for households in receipt of Free School Meals for the rest of this academic year.

To see if you’re eligible and how to access this support, please visit our Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme page for further information.

Fraud Statement

The County Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers.

If you falsely declare your circumstances, provide a false statement, or provide false evidence in support of your application, you may have committed an offence under the Fraud Act 2006. Where the Council suspects that fraud may have occurred, the matter will be investigated and may lead to criminal proceedings.