Get Help with Food, Gas, Electric and Water
Published
Thursday 12 September, 2024
Updated
Thursday 12 September, 2024
Household Support Fund
You may be eligible for help with your food and the cost of utilities through the Household Support Fund.
Funded by UK Government, the scheme is for those most in need of support to help with significantly rising living costs.
Swale Borough Council will be working with local organisations to deliver support with food and fuel provision through a network of established agencies within the Borough.
Who can we help
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a Swale resident
- Be Aged over 16 or as part of a household application
- Be at risk because you do not have access funds to support you
- Have less than £500 in your bank account
What you’ll get
- Food parcel
- Fuel vouchers for pre-paid meters
- Vouchers for billed utility accounts
- Information and guidance
How to apply
Information about how to apply for help with food or fuel.
Apply for help with food
For access to emergency food provision in the form of a food parcel, please contact the food bank in your area:
- Sheerness (Family Food Bank), email hsf@children-families.org or call 01795 889233
- Sittingbourne (Swale Food Bank), email info@swale.foodbank.org.uk or call 07486 370709
- Multicultural (Diversity House), email info@diversityhouse.org.uk or call 01795 420455
Other food support in Faversham
- Faversham (West Faversham Community Association), email support@westfavershamca.org or call 01795 537321
- Faversham Foodbank email info@faversham.foodbank.org.uk or call 07938720604
Apply for help with fuel
For support with a pre-paid gas or electricity meter vouchers (in line with the Fuel Bank Foundation criteria):
For support for those who are on billed utility accounts Household Support Fund (children-families.org). This service can provide you with a one-off virtual prepaid card, which is to be used to pay your utility provider only.
Support for pensionable aged residents
If you’ll reach state pension age by 31st March 2024 and you need help with hot meals, shopping for food or digital support, please contact
- Age UK Faversham & Sittingbourne by telephone on 01795 532766 or email hsf@ageukfs.org.uk.
- Age UK Sheppey by email admin@ageuksheppey.co.uk
Additional Support Kent County Council
You can also apply to KCC’s fund Household Support Fund in addition to any HSF support received from us.
Can your utility company help?
Most utility providers can support people who are struggling to pay their bills including Southern Water:
Contact your provider to ask them about their emergency fund and what support is available.
Welfare Support
We know that some of our residents may not have claimed all the help that is available, and in the current climate recognise that every bit counts.
We are writing to households in the Borough who have been identified as being eligible to receive certain benefits including Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance.
If you have received a letter or think you may be entitled, please follow the relevant links below to check your eligibility and/or make your application:
- check your eligibility for Pension Credit - Pension Credit calculator
- apply for Pension Credit – https://apply-for-pension-credit.dwp.gov.uk/start
- apply for Attendance allowance Attendance Allowance: How to claim
- apply for Carer’s Allowance Carer's Allowance: How it works
Additional support
- Help for Households - Get government cost of living support
- www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/aged-74-and-over-aud3
- Benefits Calculator - Entitled To - independent | accurate | reliable
