Household Support Fund 2025-26
The government has extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) until April 2026.
Enfield Council has been allocated £5,019,505.98 to support vulnerable households between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. The seventh phase of funding is meant to support people in the most need with the cost of essentials, and to provide support to prevent vulnerable households from falling into (or falling further into), crisis. This might include support with the cost of energy and water bills, food, and other essential items. The fund can also be used to support housing costs where existing housing support schemes do not meet this need.
See Enfield’s cost of living support information, which includes local support available.
Local welfare assistance – application based support
If your household is facing financial hardship, you can apply for local welfare assistance.
Funding for this scheme is limited, so only 1 award will be given per eligible household. Awards will go to those who meet the eligibility criteria on a first come, first served basis.
Please make sure you use the latest version of the application form (previous versions will not be accepted).
Apply for a Household Support Grant (PDF, 483.65 KB)
Please email your completed form and supporting evidence to hsfapplications@enfield.gov.uk.
The application-window may open and close depending on how many people apply. Check this page for updates.
Who can apply
You must:
- live in the borough of Enfield
- have an annual household net income of less than £40,000
- have less than £1,000 in savings
For the calculation of your annual net income, we do not include Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, or Child Benefit.
What help you might get
You could receive support with:
- food (this may be through food banks and pantries)
- energy and water bills or top-ups
- housing costs (not including mortgage payments)
- other essentials, like broadband, phone bills, clothing, or transport
- white goods (for example, fridge, freezer, washing machine or cooker) – these will be provided directly, not as a cash payment
Cash awards are limited to £250.
What you need to include
To be considered, you must tell us in detail about:
- what hardship you are experiencing
- why you cannot cover your expenses
If you do not provide a reason, your application will be rejected.
You must also send:
- proof of income for everyone in your household
- a copy of your recent bank statement
- a utility bill (if you’re asking for help with energy or water bills)
We will use this information to assess your situation and may also offer advice to help you maximise your income and reduce your outgoings.
Other household support fund programmes
A range of targeted programmes have been designed to ensure the funding reaches residents who need it most. These programmes include:
- £300,000 for application-based support to help residents with food, energy, water bills, and other essentials
- a £250,000 ’Enfield Together Fund’ for voluntary and community groups helping residents (open to applications from 2 June)
- £1 million to help families at risk of homelessness with rent deposits, rent in advance, and moving costs
- help for families with children who have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) for housing and utility needs
- funding for care leavers setting up their first homes
- £770,000 Council Tax hardship fund
- specialist debt advice and income maximisation services
Enfield Council’s approach combines financial help with long-term support, including debt advice, employment support for people with learning disabilities, and improving access to vital community services.
Frequently asked questions
When and how will I get my payment?
If approved, payments for energy, water and other essentials will go into your bank account within 10 days.
If you're eligible for help with white goods, we will source these from a suitable provider who will contact you and arrange for the goods to be installed.
Can I get supermarket vouchers?
No, we are unable to offer supermarket vouchers.
My friend got help, will I?
We want to make sure that households who need support can easily qualify for it, but you must meet certain criteria and provide the requested evidence. Even if some households seem similar, things like income, how many people live there, rent, and Council Tax can all affect whether you’re eligible.
Other support available
Many voluntary and community organisations are offering help with food for Enfield’s diverse community. If you need urgent food supplies and cannot afford them, you can ask your local food bank for emergency food or support.
You can also visit Enfield Food Alliance for information about local organisations providing food support to residents. You can also try the OLIO food sharing app, to share or receive free food from neighbours.
If you need further support, see our cost of living support pages or the government’s cost of living support hub.