Vulnerable households in England are being offered financial support this month through the latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF), and Kingston Council has now opened its application process for September.

The HSF is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, giving £742 million to local councils to help residents with the rising cost of essentials.

Each council in England receives a portion of the fund and decides how it is distributed.

Kingston upon Thames has been allocated £1,520,777.72 for the 2025-26 round and has now opened its September application window for residents in need of support.

The council's fund is divided across four main areas. Free school meal holiday vouchers via schools (£875,620), grants to voluntary and community sector (VCSE) (£400,000), residents' applications (£240,157.72), and administration (£5,000).

Residents in Kingston can now apply for a £300 one-off payment this month if they meet the eligibility criteria.

The council will accept only 80 applications this month, starting from 9am on the first working day of each month and acting on a first-come first-serve basis.

The grant will be delivered via a voucher, which can be used for food, utility bills, and other essentials.

To qualify, residents must live within the borough (or have local ties if homeless), and to meet one or more of the following conditions: Inability to afford nutritious food, difficulty affording heating, gas, or water, lack of basic essentials (clothing, toiletries, etc.), urgent housing needs not covered by existing needs, and/or a community care need or vulnerability.

Applicants do not need to be on benefits, but households already receiving means-tested support such as Universal Credit or free school meals will be prioritised.

Only one application per household is allowed during the 2025-26 fund period.

You can apply directly via Kingston Council's website or ask a professional, such as a social worker or support organisation, to apply on your behalf.

For questions, email [email protected] or call 020 8547 5000.

Eligible households in Kingston are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and the next application period will open at 9am on the first working day of October.