As part of the nationwide efforts to recover following the pandemic, Hart District council has been provided with some funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF).
Funding has been distributed to councils across England, who know their local areas best, to directly help those who need it most, including for example, through small grants to meet daily needs such as food, clothing, utilities, and essential costs.
As funds are limited, the council will prioritise those households facing the greatest need. The scheme is due to run until 31 March 2022 but once all funds have been allocated, the fund will be closed.
More information about the fund and the national picture can be found in the Government Household Support Fund announcement.
Who is eligible?
Our eligibility criteria balances supporting as many residents as we can with targeting our limited funds to support those who need our help the most.
Applicants must:
- Be over the age of 16; and
- Live in the district (as your main residence); and
- Be without sufficient resources to meet the immediate short-term needs of themselves or dependents
What will not be awarded?
Not every application will be awarded. The scheme will not award:
- Mortgage support - however homeowners could still qualify for the other elements of the Fund (such as food, energy, water, essentials linked to energy and water and wider essentials). Where a homeowner is having difficulty with their mortgage payments, they should contact their lender as soon as possible to discuss their circumstances or Citizens Advice for further hep and support
How will payments be made?
If you have been awarded a payment, we will normally provide vouchers payments direct to suppliers or directly purchased items where applicable.
How do I apply?
Applications may be made online by emailing hardship@hart.gov.uk or by telephone 01252 774420. Applications can be made by the applicant or their carer, advocate or a third party acting on their behalf. We also allow direct referrals from trusted partners.
What information will I need to provide?
To assess the household needs and priorities, the council will require you to provide some information. This may include details of who is living within the household, the household income, any savings held by household members, and the reasons that led to an application being made. We will also need some practical information, such as your National Insurance number and contact details.
The information provided in your application may be sufficient to make an assessment, however in some instances further information may be necessary to support the application.
Assessment process
Once a completed application and the required supporting evidence is received, a decision will be made based on the information provided and any other information available to them. We will also consider all the circumstances and reasons that led to an application being made.
The team will also consider all the information at their disposal including:
- Financial circumstances
- Access to other forms of financial support
- Circumstances and reasons for the claim
- Preventative measures taken by the applicant or partner
- Impact of making or not making of the award
- The budgetary situation of the fund
If the advisor feels that there are sufficient grounds for an award to be made based on priority and vulnerability, they will then consider the amount of the award.
Calculating the amount of an award
As part of the application, you will be asked to give an indication of the support that is required. However, the assessing advisor will determine the amount of support based on local economic factors and arrangements in place with other agencies/retailers. It will not always be possible to provide the full amount due to the limited funds we have available.
Advising you of a decision
Once the advisor has decided on your application, we will give you written notice by email advising you:
- Whether an award has been made and the reason for the decision
- The intended use of the award
- The amount of the award
We will also let you know about other services in the council and the community which may be able to provide further support. We will also advise you as to how the award will be made.
Reviewing unsuccessful applications
The scheme is discretionary and there are no appeal rights to an Independent Tribunal, but you can ask us to look at your case again within 5 days of our decision if you are not happy with the outcome of your application.
Requests for a review of our decision need to be made in writing to hardship@hart.gov.uk. It must state the reasons why you are asking for a review of the decision.
You will be notified of the review decision within 10 working days of your request. This decision will be final. If you do not have access to a computer, you can get in touch with us, and we will advise you on how you can request a review.
How often can I apply?
Support will usually be provided from the fund once. In exceptional circumstances repeat applications will be considered on merit.
