Cabinet to consider Household Support Grant proposals

Next week (Wednesday 14 May), Cabinet Members will consider proposals for grants to provide support to Barnsley residents to help with essential household living costs. 

Over the last four years Barnsley Council has received £16.4 million from the UK Government in Household Support Grants. This year, we’ve been awarded a further £4.1 million for April 2025 to March 2026, taking the total investment for the borough to £20.5 million pounds. The government have confirmed that this will be the final round of the Household Support Grant funding. 

Last winter, Barnsley Council launched its campaign to provide vital support to Barnsley pensioners through the challenging winter months, funded through the Household Support Fund. 

The campaign reached over 2,400 residents who the council identified as being eligible for pension credits but not claiming their full entitlement.  

Our teams made direct contact with these residents and offered advice and support with completing applications and sign posting to other benefits they may be eligible for.  This resulted in an additional £5.4 million income into households across the borough, achieved through engagement that supported: 

• 1,322 households to claim pension credits who previously were not receiving anything  

• 614 households to receive their correct entitlement. 

The council also provided a £200 Winter Fuel Payment to 2,008 households who would have otherwise not received any support due to the ending of the government’s Winter Fuel Allowance. 

If approved by Cabinet Members, this year’s £4.1 million funding will be used to continue supporting residents with: 

• Essential Household Support: issuing vouchers to Local Council Tax Support claimants in Band 1 and Care Leavers in the coming months, to help with the cost of essential household items and energy costs.  

• Targeted support to residents: providing grant funding to community groups to ensure targeted support to residents to help with day-to-day costs such as food, hygiene and enabling expansion of community pantries. 

• Local Welfare Assistance: continuing the local welfare assistance scheme to support people in financial crisis with the cost of essential household bills and white goods. 

• Families that are eligible for means-tested Free School Meals: supporting families that are eligible for means-tested free school meals with £15 voucher during the May, October, Christmas and February holidays to cover the cost of food. This support compliments our Healthy Holidays schemes during Easter, Summer, and Christmas school holidays. 

• Affordable Warmth Programme: providing residents with financial support through our Warm Homes team to help with energy debts and sustainable solutions that help to reduce energy consumption linked to heating.  

• Citizens Advice Barnsley Advisor: funding an additional Debt and Financial Capability Advisor to enable early intervention and advice around debt, budgeting, income maximisation and money management. 

• Winter Fuel Payments: providing £200 payment to pensioners who are not eligible to receive pension credits but are low-income households in receipt of Local Council Tax Support. The Post Office Vouchers will be auto awarded and paid to eligible households in November 2025. 

• Energy Fuel Payments scheme: providing financial support to residents experiencing fuel poverty, to prevent disconnection from the energy provider. Residents that are eligible for these payments will also receive support from the councils Warm Homes team who provide advice to help make homes more energy efficient and reduce the cost of energy bills. 

Councillor Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “Our work to deliver support through last year’s funding helped many residents through challenging times. I’m confident that this new round of funding will continue to make a significant impact on the lives of those who need it most. I welcome these proposals, and how our teams, partners and community groups can come together to support residents and families to have more money in their pockets over the next year.” 

Many people are having difficulties due to the current cost of living, and you might not realise you're entitled to some help. You can find out about the range of local help that's available at barnsley.gov.uk/MMIYP.