Hertfordshire residents struggling with cost of living to get continued help as Government extends Household Support Fund for a further year until the end of March 2026
People in Hertfordshire struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis are to get continued support.
The Government announced on Wednesday (March 19) that it is extending the Household Support Fund (HSF) to councils for a further 12 months until the end of March 2026.
Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is to receive £10.88m in this next round (1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026), taking the total it has been granted since the HSF was introduced in October 2021 to £55m. The council has been using the extra funding to support residents to deal with the rising cost of living.
Cllr Richard Roberts, leader of the council, said: “We welcome [the] announcement by the Work and Pensions Secretary [Liz Kendall] to extend the HSF, introduced by the last Government, for an additional year.
“We understand the financial pressures our residents are continuing to face, and that’s why we’ve been calling for the HSF to be extended.
“We’re pleased that the Government has listened to us, and we will continue to lobby the Government to ensure they understand the challenges we are facing here in Hertfordshire, making the case for them to find a longer-term solution to enable us to provide this vital support beyond March 2026.”
Over the coming weeks, the council will set out a plan for how the fund is going to be used, working with a range of partners across the county to make sure those who need it get the right help at the right time.
This targeted approach means residents can be supported and get assistance from the county council, local district and borough councils, and a range of community and voluntary sector organisations.
You can find out about the range of local and national support, including how to apply for HCC’s welfare assistance scheme, at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/costofliving
If you need help and don’t know where to turn, contact HertsHelp, whose trained advisors offer free, confidential assistance. They can put you in touch with relevant services and local support. Visit www.hertshelp.net or call 0300 123 4044.