Direct applications to the Household Support Fund closed at 12 midday on Monday 23 February 2026.
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) is a grant funded by UK Government to support those most in need and to help with the rising cost of living. It is not charity and does not need to be paid back. Eligible households can apply for one award in the 2025-26 financial year.
Since 2021, the fund has been renewed each year and has played a vital role in supporting low‑income households with energy, food, and essential costs.
Following confirmation from the UK Government, the Household Support Fund is ending in March 2026.
Direct applications to the fund closed on Monday 23 February at midday. You can still apply through our network of Trusted Partners.
Trusted partners
We have built links with a network of support agencies across the county (our Trusted Partners), who offer help for a range of challenges individuals may face. You are welcome to connect with these agencies for support and advice.
Eligibility
Households are eligible to access Household Support Fund financial support, if all of the following apply (to both you and others living in your household):
- Currently live in Cambridgeshire.
- Have £16,000 or less in money, savings, and investments.
- Have income levels less than identified below:
If you are paid monthly, the figures below are before any tax and you must include all sources of income which includes benefits received, pensions, income from property or other investments.
|
Gross annual income |
No children |
1 child |
2 children |
3 or more children |
|
Single adult |
£24,876 |
£30,465 |
£37,377 |
£48,735 |
|
Couple/Joint application |
£34,494 |
£36,123 |
£42,418 |
£54,572 |
If you are paid weekly the figures relate to the amount you receive each week after any changes made by the tax and benefit systems.
|
Net income per week |
No children |
1 child |
2 children |
3 or more children |
|
Single adult |
£392 |
£605 |
£802 |
£1,016 |
|
Couple/Joint application |
£593 |
£718 |
£911 |
£1,130 |
The funding is open to all, but we particularly encourage applications from those households including (but not limited to):
- Disabled people with increased utility bills due to usage of equipment or transport costs.
- Those in receipt of housing benefit only, for example those living in multiple occupation households and paying fuel through meters etc.
- People who are entitled to but are not claiming any qualifying benefits.
Holiday Voucher Scheme
The Holiday Voucher Scheme offers households in receipt of Free School Meals, supermarket vouchers to support them during school holidays between 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Vouchers are issued to the value of £15 per eligible child per week
To see if you’re eligible and how to access this support, please visit our Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme page for further information.
Household Support Fund privacy notice
In these difficult times, we are working very closely with our district and city council partners, schools, voluntary sector organisations as well as the volunteers who are helping to deliver the vital support to our local communities. This means that we will need to receive and share personal information about our residents. Our Household Support Fund privacy notice provides information about what kind of personal information we request, what we may do with it and who may have access to it.
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.
