York Household Support Fund 6 (HSF) was available from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, and was provided to support vulnerable households in most need of support to help with the rising cost of living.
The government has announced that further funding will be made available for a new HSF scheme up to March 2026.
Guidance for the new scheme will be issued to local authorities in Spring 2025. Once we've received this we will be able to develop the HSF 7 for York. Details about the new scheme will be made available as soon as possible.
From 1 April 2025, until the HSF 7 scheme is in place, the following advice and support is available:
York HSF 6 was provided through 2 routes:
Route 1 Invite - Payment to bank account
People of working age receiving Council Tax Support were invited to apply, and received a payment of £115 directly to their bank account in December 2025.
Route 2 - Discretionary scheme applications
Any customers who required assistance with food, energy or water bills and who were not receiving Council Tax Support, or were over pension age, were able to apply through the discretionary application route.
All applications to the discretionary route were through a means tested assessment which required applicants to prepare and provide some financial information.
You may also have been able to apply for exceptional financial circumstances relating to other essentials, which were assessed on a discretionary basis.
Any exceptional discretionary awards were made on an individual basis as appropriate.
The discretionary HSF 6 was open from Friday 1 November 2024 until Monday 31 March 2025. Any applications made will be processed as soon as possible.