Residents who are eligible for help through the Household Support Fund (HSF) are being contacted.
Residents who are eligible for help through the Household Support Fund (HSF) are being contacted.
The HSF is a Department for Work and Pensions initiative to support those most vulnerable this winter to pay for essentials like food and utility bills.
The council has begun contacting those who are eligible, via letter, email or SMS, including families with children in receipt of Free School Meals, care leavers and families with children in early years.
Those contacted will be told the amount of the award, the purpose for which the award should be used and the method of payment. The council will be awarding food vouchers, vouchers for essential goods (where there are mitigating circumstances) and assistance with fuel payments.
People in receipt of Council Tax Support will have the money credited onto their account during December and can check their account online.
Those in temporary accommodation within Houses of Multiple Occupation will find that the payment will appear on their quarterly rent statement in January.
Cllr Christine Hulme, lead member for children’s services, lifelong learning and skills, said: “I’m delighted Slough is receiving this money to help families, particularly those with children. The majority of the £1,177,691.53 the council has been given will be distributed by us to people we know are eligible.
“A smaller proportion has been kept aside for anyone in need who applies directly to us. We hope the funding will help take a little bit of pressure off individuals and families this winter.”
In Slough, there are 5,507 children receiving free school meals. These families will receive £15 per week for a total of five weeks, over the Christmas period and in February and March, to help pay for essentials.
The HSF award is for an urgent, one-off provision to prevent serious risk to the health, wellbeing or safety of Slough’s most vulnerable and financially excluded residents.
Residents who are aren’t contacted by the council as being eligible can apply directly for assistance. The grants will be issued on a first come, first served basis, providing the criteria is met.
Applications are limited to one application per household. Applicants can apply on behalf of someone else, however, the funding must be provided to a bank account in the name of the person for whom the application is being made.
The council cannot commit to further funding applications once all available funding has been allocated.
The grant funding will end on 31 March 2022, or once all the funding has been allocated.