The Council has received additional funding from East Sussex County Council through the Department for Work and Pension’s Household Support Fund (HSF).  This limited funding has been made available to support households in the most need with food, energy and water bills.  This fund will close on 31st March 2024 or when the fund has been exhausted, whichever is sooner.

Applicants who received an award in respect of the period 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 will not be required to make a new application, instead an automatic payment will be made using the bank account details already held (but only where the eligibility criteria continues to be met). Payments will start to be received during November 2023.  

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the support, applicants must live within the Rother District, be over the age of 18, have recourse to public funds, and be finding it difficult to pay for heating, lighting, water or food. They must also be in receipt of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction but NOT in receipt of one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income Support
• Income Based Job-Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

However, residents in receipt of one of the benefits listed above may still be eligible if they are in receipt of Housing Benefit and or Council Tax Reduction and one of the following disability benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pensions Mobility Supplement
• Carers Allowance

Award

There will be a one-off award of £200.00 for eligible households.

All payments will be made directly to an applicant’s bank account with only one application allowed for the lifetime of the scheme.   

You may be required to supply an up-to-date bank statement.  This should be in the name of the applicant at the application address.  Applications with incorrect information may be declined.

If you have previously claimed a Business Grant, Household Support Fund Payment, Test and Trace Payment or Energy Rebate you can use the same account. Once registered or logged in please enter quick code 573BUL to locate 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