Household Support Fund
To receive a verbal update on the Household Support Fund
Minutes:
The Committee received a verbal update on the Household Support Fund from the Joint Head, Community and Wellbeing, Deborah Ashman.
The Council had received £307k central Government funding allocated via Surrey County Council to use to support vulnerable residents with food and utility bills. All the money had to have been committed by end of March 2022 as any remaining would be taken back by Surrey County Council.
A local scheme had been agreed that would result in one-off payments being issued to residents currently in receipt of qualifying benefits. These payments would be as follows:
£50 – residents over 70 years
£60 – residents aged 18-70 years
£80 – families
A ratio of spend had been agreed as follows:
60% - families
20% - to single households
20% - households over 70 years
It was anticipated that approximately 4400 people in the Borough could be helped under this scheme. The scheme was being widely publicised throughout the Borough in order to reach as many residents as possible.
The Committee resolved to note the update.