Household Support Fund

• Supermarket vouchers
• Cash for energy voucher
• Help with boiler repair or replacements for home owners
• Help with housing costs for those in rented accommodation

Any problems redeeming or using your supermarket voucher contact www.select-your-reward.co.uk/ContactUs or telephone 0344 693 9901

The Household Support Fund is available to support children, adults, and families.

Automatic support for children and families

Cheshire East will automatically distribute £160 of supermarket vouchers to eligible children and family groups via your nursery, school or college setting or by email if this does not apply, on:

• £40 following the Easter 2023 school holidays (delivery closing date 12 May 2023)
• £80 in advance of the summer 2023 school holidays (delivery closing date 19 July 2023)
• £40 in advance of the Christmas/winter 2023 school holidays

We cannot backdate payments, and families must be eligible for and in receipt of income related free school meals/early years funding or have been identified by services as being eligible prior to the delivery periods noted above.

Children and families will qualify for this support if they:

• Are in receipt of income related free school meals
• Are in receipt of early years pupil premium and two-year funding
• Are care leavers up to age 25
• Are not in education, employment or training aged 16-18
• Are young carers for their parents/carer

You will only receive automatic support once, even if you meet more than one of the eligibility criteria

Additional support that can be applied for

In addition to the automatic support, young people and their families can be referred for the following:

• Supermarket voucher: £20 per child
• Cash for energy voucher: £100 per household
• Help with boiler repair or replacements for homeowners
• Help with housing costs for those in rented accommodation

The enquiry form is open throughout the year to all families and adults via referral from a trusted professional.

Who is eligible for an additional support referral

• Any family vulnerable due to financial hardship
• Known to children’s social care and early help services
• Known to domestic abuse services
• Foster carers

How to apply for additional support

You must be referred by a trusted practitioner/professional who is supporting you as part of their role. This could be:

• Education/School professional
• Support Worker
• Family Support Worker
• Citizen Advice
• Health Professional
• Registered Housing Provider
• Domestic Abuse Services

Ask a practitioner/professional who is working with you or who knows your family well to make a referral. If they require further information ask them to email HSFfamily@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Adults who have a Cheshire East Corporate Appointeeship will receive £160 through their established support channels in October/November 2023.

We cannot backdate payments and adults must have a Cheshire East Corporate Appointeeship in place prior to the delivery periods above.

Additional Support for adults that can be applied for

In addition to the automatic support, adults can be referred for the following:

• Supermarket vouchers: £40 per single adult or £60 per couple
• Cash for energy vouchers: £100 per household
• Help with boiler repair or replacements for homeowners
• Help with housing costs for those in rented accommodation

The enquiry form is open throughout the year to all families and adults via referral from a trusted professional.

What adults are eligible for an additional support referral

• Adults of any age who are on a low income and experiencing financial difficulty

How to apply for additional support for adults

You must be referred by a trusted practitioner/professional who is supporting you as part of their role. This could be:

• Education/School professional
• Support Worker
• Family Support Worker
• Citizen Advice
• Health Professional
• Registered Housing Provider
• Domestic Abuse Services

Ask a practitioner/professional who you are working with, or who knows your family well to make a referral, if they require further information, ask them to email hsffamily@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Automatic support

Pensioners who are in receipt of Council Tax Support will automatically receive a £160 post office voucher which can be exchanged for cash. Vouchers will be issued in distributed in October/November 2023.

Eligible pensioners will receive a letter from the post office with a reference barcode included, further details on how to redeem the funds will be included within their letter.

We cannot backdate payments and pensioners must be in receipt of Council Tax Support prior to the delivery periods above.

Additional Support for pensioners that can be applied for

In addition to the automatic support, pensioners can be referred for the following:

• Supermarket voucher: £40 per single adults or £60 per couple
• Cash for energy voucher: £100 per household
• Help with boiler repair or replacements for homeowners
• Help with housing costs for those in rented accommodation

The enquiry form is open throughout the year to all pensioners via referral from a trusted practitioner/professional.

What pensioners are eligible

• Any pensioner vulnerable due to financial hardship

How to apply for additional support for pensioners 

You must be referred by a trusted practitioner/professional who is supporting you as part of their role. This could be:

• Support Worker
• Family Support Worker
• Citizen Advice
• Health Professional
• Registered Housing Provider
• Domestic Abuse Services

Ask a practitioner/professional who you are working with, or who knows your family well to make a referral, if they require further information, please ask them to email  HSFadults@cheshireeast.gov.uk 

• For emergency support, please contact the Emergency Duty Team via 0300 123 5022.
• If you think you are eligible for 2-year-old free early education and childcare go to Free Early Education (FEEE) for 2 year olds (cheshireeast.gov.uk) for information about this funding and the eligibility criteria. If you are entitled to 2-year-old funding, you will start to receive these vouchers.
• If you think that you are eligible for early years pupil premium go to Early years pupil premium information for childcare providers (cheshireeast.gov.uk) for information about this funding and how you can check eligibility. If you are entitled to early years pupil premium, you will start to receive these vouchers.
• If you think that you are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) but have not applied, go to  www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/fsm and complete the form or phone 0300 123 5012. If you are entitled to FSM, you will start to receive these vouchers.
• For other emergency support you can apply for our Emergency AssistanCE scheme
• To apply for help with Housing Costs if you live in rented accommodation you can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments.
• For additional emergency support with food, ask for a referral to your local food banks.
• A list of support available nationally and locally for residents of Cheshire East is available to support you with the increased cost of living.
• Children and young people in receipt of benefit-related free school meals can access a range of free activity clubs during the winter, Easter and summer school holidays – visit the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) - Live Well Cheshire East directory page for further information.