Skip to content

We use cookies on this site

If you don't want to accept cookies, you can change your preferences

Accept Manage cookies
  1. Home
  2. Benefits and support
  3. Cost of living support

Elections on 2 May

Elections for the next Mayor of London and London Assembly members, as well as the by-election for Hillrise ward, will take place on Thursday 2 May. You must now show photo ID when you vote at polling stations. See a full list of accepted forms of ID.

Find your nearest polling station.

Coins icon

Household support fund

Read about how we will use the Household Support Fund, who will benefit, and how we will contact you about getting extra support.

The Household Support Fund aims to provide crisis support to vulnerable households, helping with the huge rise in living costs. The fund is provided by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP).

Islington has been allocated £4,436,319 for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Islington Council will use this fund to support households in the most need – particularly those who may not be eligible for the other support the Government has made available, including its Cost of Living payments.

Extension to September 2024

The Government has announced that the Household Support Fund will be extended to September 2024. We will publish details about how we will be spending the extended Islington funding soon.

How we will use the funding

  • 55% is being used to fund free meals during the school holiday periods - from May 2023 to Easter 2024 - for:
    • all school-age children eligible for free school meals, and
    • children under school age whose parent / guardian gets Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support.
  • 15% is for low-income households who have missed out on other cost-of-living support.
  • 15% is for low-income households who are least able to protect themselves from unexpected financial changes (not financially resilient).
  • 5% is for carer households with a low-income.
  • 10% is for people on benefits that are being reduced. You must apply for this - check if you can get this and apply now.

We will contact everyone in each of these groups to give you information about the award.

Apply for Household Support Fund

Applications for the Household Support Fund are now closed.

For more information on the cost-of-living support provided by the Government visit GOV.UK’s Cost of Living Hub.

Find more cost-of-living support on our webpages, as well as from other organisations below:

Was this information helpful?



Data protection: We will handle your personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with the council’s Fair Processing Notice.