Household Support Fund Bristol: what is the government support, how do I apply online, and who is eligible?

Amid the cost of living crisis that is rampant throughout the UK, Rishi Sunak has laid out a plan to assist vulnerable households.

Outlined in his Spring Statement, the Household Support Fund has doubled from £500 million to £1 billion.

Distributed to local authorities across England - including Bristol City Council - here is everything you need to know.

What is the Household Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund, which was only announced last September, aims to assist struggling households in England.

Many people are struggling with the rising cost of living and the government has issued a number of measures in an attempt to alleviate these pressures - such as the £150 council tax rebate.

A scheme that has been increased from £500 million to £1 billion, these funds will be issued to Bristol City Council.

Small grants would then be provided by the local authority to desperate families in order to allow them to afford daily essentials such as food, clothing and utilities.

50% of the billion pound fund will be reserved for households with children, whilst £421 million will be allocated to the most vulnerable.

The other £80 million will be given to the devolved administrations.

Who is eligible for government support?

The criteria that you need to meet in order to qualify for the Household Support Fund varies from council to council.

The majority of local authorities in England have insisted that eligibility for the scheme will depend on your ability to support yourself or your dependents.

BristolWorld contacted Bristol City Council to establish what the criteria will be but we had not received a reply at the time of publishing.

Keep an eye on the official Bristol City Council website for any further details or information.

How do I apply for the Household Support Fund?

The funding from the Household Support Fund was first distributed to local authorities in October 2021.

The government has insisted that those who feel they are in need to take advantage of the scheme should contact their local council directly.

To find out what council you will need to contact, enter your postcode on the government website .

What has the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said?

The OBR has said, despite the Chancellor’s announcement, the scale of the drop in living standards in the UK in 2022 will be the worst ever seen since records began in 1956.

“The public finances have emerged from the pandemic in better shape than expected,” said the OBR.

“But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will push inflation to a 40-year high of almost 9%, and living standards are set for a historic fall over the next 12 months.”

The OBR added: “With inflation outpacing growth in nominal earnings and net taxes due to rise in April, real living standards are set to fall by 2.2% in 2022-23 – their largest financial year fall on record – and not recover their pre-pandemic level until 2024-25.”