Decision details

On 02 September 2024 the Government announced a further Household Support Fund to support those most in need. The grant will run from 01 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 and East Sussex County Council has been allocated £3,896,783.88. The Department for Work and Pensions has set out how the scheme should be allocated. The criteria have changed slightly from previous funds.

East Sussex County Council have allocated Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC)

£194,235.00 to provide support to vulnerable households and cover EBC’s administration costs. The scheme will close when the allocation is spent, or on 31 March 2025, whichever happens first. 

East Sussex County Council and the District and Borough Councils within East Sussex have worked together to design a county-wide scheme.

The scheme criteria is at appendix 1.

The main qualifying criterion is that the resident is on a low income but have not been included in the government’s Winter Fuel Allowance payments, they are likely to be among the most financially vulnerable yet would not receive the additional funding from the government. If spend is not at the levels expected, and as any unspent funds at 31 December 2024 have to be returned to government, we will look to revise this criterion and open up the scheme to more residents. 

The fund will be aimed, at least initially, to support residents who are struggling to pay their utility bills for energy and water. 

(1) To approve the Local Authority’s Household Support Fund 6 Policy.

(2) To grant the Assistant Director of Revenues and Benefits delegated authority, to implement, and if necessary, amend the Policy (in consultation with the Leader). Such delegated authority will include any measures necessary for or incidental to its management and administration.

This is an extension of previous Household Support Funds and needs to be implemented as a matter of urgency and so executive approval for the scheme is being sought from the Leader. The Leader is being asked to authorise the Assistant Director of Revenues and Benefits to implement and administer the scheme as there is no existing officer delegation in place.

The Council could choose not take part in the scheme, but this could lead to Eastbourne residents not being able to benefit.