The Council has received additional funding from East Sussex County Council, through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as part of the Household Support Fund (HSF). This limited funding is intended to help households most in need with essential costs, including food, energy, and water bills.

This scheme will close on 31st March 2026, or earlier if funds are fully allocated.

Eligibility criteria

To apply, you must meet all the following conditions:

• You are over 18 years of age
• You live within the Rother District Council, local authority area
• You are struggling to afford food, energy, or water
• You are receiving one of the following:
  • Universal Credit (with the Housing Cost element)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Reduction

Award

• A one-off payment of £195 will be awarded to each eligible household.
• Payment will be made directly to the applicant’s bank account.

Multiple applications

• Only one application per household is permitted during the period 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026.
• Any additional applications from the same household will be automatically refused.
• If a household moves to a different local authority, a new application may be submitted (subject to eligibility in that area).

Verification

If our internal verification checks are inconclusive, we may request additional evidence before issuing payment. This may include:

• A recent bank statement showing the applicant’s name and address.

If you have applied for the Household Support Fund before, you can use your existing account.

• Log in or register an account on the application portal.
• Use the quick code 573B4L to find the correct scheme.

To find out more about the benefits and financial support available to help with the cost of living please visit: www.gov.uk/cost-of-living