Household Support Fund
Some families with sick or disabled children may find it hard to pay for essentials like food and energy bills. This fund is here to help.
The Household Support Fund helps people with the cost of essentials.
The fund is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Islington Council has been allocated £3,909,440.47 for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
You may be able to get £200 for each sick or disabled child in your household. You must also get a means-tested benefit.
Who can apply
You can apply if all of the following apply to you:
- you care for a child who gets any rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- you get a means-tested benefit
- you live in Islington as your main and permanent address
What we mean by 'means-tested benefit'
A 'means-tested benefit' is a benefit you get that is based on your income and savings.
These include:
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
We will check with the DWP and other systems to make sure you get one of these.
If you do not get one of these benefits, do not apply.
What you can get
If your application is successful, you will get £200 for each child who gets DLA or PIP.
If you have more than one eligible child, you will get £200 for each child.
We may refer you to other local services that can offer support.
How to apply
You can apply online. You will need:
- your National Insurance number
- the child’s National Insurance number, if they have one
- the names of the benefits you get
Applications will close when all available funding has been given out, or at 11:59pm on Friday 20 March 2026, whichever comes first. You should apply as soon as possible.
What happens after you apply
We aim to make a decision within 21 days of receiving your application.
If your application is successful
- you will get a letter from Islington Council
- take the letter to the Post Office with identification to collect your payment
If your application is not successful
We will write to you to explain the reason.
Beware of scams
Some people are sending fake messages about the Household Support Fund. We will not:
- send you a text message about the fund
- ask you to pay anything first
