Financial support for residents

Latest round of Household Support Fund available until 31 March 2026

The latest and seventh round of Household Support Funding has been announced and runs between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

The amount allocated to Surrey was £9.3m which is a 12% reduction on previous rounds. The funding is allocated via the Department of Work and Pensions to Surrey County Council to fund schemes and organisations that help those families who are struggling financially in Surrey.

This latest round of funding will be allocated via organisations and schemes in Surrey, by Surrey County Council, to provide services and support to residents in Waverley and across Surrey in the best way. We have not been allocated any Household Support Fund money from this round to run an application-based scheme. Waverley households will need to apply to Surrey County Council.

Further information is available on the Surrey County Council website.

Application-based scheme – Everyday Essentials E-voucher Scheme

Surrey County Council has developed this new scheme that eligible residents across the whole of Surrey can apply for, to help with everyday living costs.

This scheme has been set up to provide financial support in the form of e-vouchers to those people who may be finding it difficult to afford essentials such as food and toiletries.

Applications will be open in monthly applications windows starting from 1 October 2026 until 31 March 2026. The scheme will close sooner if the funds available are allocated before 31 March 2026.

Information about the scheme and how to apply is available on the Everyday Essentials E-voucher Scheme pages of Surrey County Council’s website.

Please note that Surrey Crisis Fund can only support residents that are in immediate financial crisis.

If you are not in immediate crisis, further information about support is available on the cost of living pages of our website and on the Surrey County Council health and welfare support hub.

Background information about the Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund is a national scheme funded by the UK Government. It supports households in England that are most in need with the cost of essentials. These funds are distributed to authorities to be allocated in line with Government guidance.

For the sixth round of the Household Support Fund, 1 September 2024 - 31 March 2025, Waverley Borough Council was allocated £66,145. Some funds were allocated to local organisations to directly help their service users:

The remaining funds of £26,145 were available to Waverley residents through our application-based scheme.

Privacy Notice

The Privacy Notice for the Household Support Fund explains what happens to the personal information you provide when you contact Waverley Borough Council. 

Be vigilant of scams

Previously we have been made aware of scam text messages claiming to be from Government departments asking people to click links to apply for financial support. Advice about avoiding scams, and how to report them, can be found on GOV.UK

The Government's Cost of Living webpages provide an overview of support available to help with the cost of living including income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.

Cost of Living Support (GOV.UK)

Surrey Crisis Fund

The Surrey Crisis fund is a discretionary fund run by Surrey County Council providing financial help to Surrey residents who have nowhere else to turn in an emergency or after a disaster. It can also provide assistance to set up a home in the community where no other funds or resources are available. This is a discretionary fund run by Surrey County Council and may be able to assist with food and toiletries, certain utilities, emergency travel costs and more.  

The fund aims to support people for one occasion and signpost to long-term help to prevent ongoing need.

Visit Surrey Crisis Fund (surreycc.gov.uk) to complete their online application form. If you have no access to the internet, you may get help to access the internet at your local library or by visiting your local Citizens Advice office who can help you to apply online.

If you have a disability that prevents you from using their online form, please call the Surrey Community Helpline on or call 0300 200 1008.

We can consider awarding a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if there is gap between the amount of rent you must pay and the amount of housing benefit / Local Housing Allowance or Universal Credit you receive.

DHP can top-up housing benefit, but the total amount cannot be more than you pay in rent.

Find out more about the Discretionary Housing Payment and how to apply

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) are designed to help people with disabilities to have independence in their homes. They are available to owner-occupiers, tenants and landlords. They are mandatory up to a value of £30,000 for a range of adaptations.

To apply visit the Disabled Facilities Grant page. 

If you need help with rent or living expenses then you may qualify for Universal Credit or other benefits. 

Find out more about Universal Credit on GOV.UK

Details about other benefits on GOV.UK