Household Support Fund

Mid Devon District Council has been given funding from the UK Government to help support those who are struggling to afford food and energy bills this autumn/winter. When our allocated fund has been spent the scheme will close.

• This fund will run from the 28th October 2024 to the 31st March 2025 or earlier if the funds run out.

PLEASE NOTE: You can only apply once per household for one of the above funds.

If you are:

1. A Mid Devon Resident
2. Over the age of 16
3. Facing immediate short-term need

One application only per household for essential food and energy costs.

Funding is available to help with:

1. food bills,
2. energy for heating, lighting and cooking.

NB: The scheme can only help with housing costs in exceptional circumstances. If you are having difficulty paying your rent, see Help with your rent. The fund is unable to pay for mortgage costs.

Please fill out the form on-line by pressing the Begin button at the bottom of the page or call us on 01884 255255.

Once your application has been processed, it will be referred to Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) (opening times are 9.30am to 4.30 Monday to Friday) or NAVIGATE CIO, who will be administering the fund on behalf of Mid Devon District Council.

An advisor will contact you within a week to discuss your needs (excluding weekends and bank holidays).

The amount of award will be dependent on your current need, and will be determined on a case-by-case basis. However, the fund can only provide short-term assistance.

You can only apply for an award once per household between May 2024 and September 2024. Repeat applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

Household Support Fund payments will be made through vouchers. NO CASH or CHEQUES will be provided.

Awards are not repayable as they are grants and not loans.

In order to assess your need and the level of support we can offer, you will be asked to provide:

1. A copy of the most recent statement for all your bank accounts showing a full month of transactions. The same will be required for a partner living at the property. Follow the instructions on the application form to send your bank statement by email. Screenshots will not be accepted. You can also send a paper statement by post.
2. National Insurance Number

The Council is committed to tackling and preventing fraud in all its forms. If a claimant attempts to claim an award from the Household Support Fund by making a false declaration or providing false evidence or statements they may have committed an offence under the Theft Act 1968. Where the Council suspects that fraud may have occurred it will investigate the matter as appropriate, and this may lead to criminal proceedings.

The information you provide will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act for the purposes of processing your application, cross-matching with other data held by the Council for verification purposes and assessing you eligibility for an award as mentioned in the guidelines.

The information will be shared with Churches Housing Action Team and Navigate CIO, who will be administering the grants on the Council’s behalf, and may be shared if appropriate with other departments within Mid Devon District Council and other statutory agencies e.g. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for verification purposes.

The information provided will be stored securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act. The information will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, but personal information will not be released in responses to Freedom of Information requests.