Households across the UK have been issued a critical update regarding vital financial support, with payments set to be temporarily halted over the Christmas period.
Fund Pause and Restart Dates Confirmed
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that its Household Support Fund (HSF) will pause on Friday, 19th December 2025. The scheme, which provides emergency help to families struggling with essential costs, will not resume until Monday, 5th January 2026.
Leicestershire County Council, which administers the fund locally in the East Midlands, explained the reasoning behind the break. A council statement said the pause is necessary "to allow all vouchers to be issued before Christmas".
What Support is Available?
The current support package offers targeted aid for food and heating costs. For households with children, food vouchers are worth £20 per adult per week and £15 per child per week, available for a maximum of two weeks.
Single-person households can access £25 per week for the same two-week maximum. For help with energy bills, the council is issuing fuel vouchers valued at £98 for families and £56 for single people.
It is crucial to note that this grant cannot be used for rent payments, housing costs, or general debt advice. Its purpose is strictly to alleviate immediate pressures on food and energy budgets.
Strict Eligibility and Application Rules
Access to the fund is tightly controlled. Only one application per household will be considered. To qualify, applicants must be aged over 16 and live in Leicestershire.
They must demonstrate that their household, with or without children, is experiencing genuine financial hardship, specifically struggling to afford food, heating, or other essential utility costs.
Proof of address is mandatory and can be provided via a DWP benefits letter, a recent bank statement, a utility bill, or a Council Tax bill.
Perhaps the most significant rule is that no direct applications from the public are accepted. A referral must be made by a professional support worker or agency on behalf of the applicant. Successful applicants will receive confirmation of their voucher allocation directly from the council.
Residents of Leicestershire who believe they may be eligible are advised to contact local support agencies, such as Citizens Advice or food bank referrers, before the fund pauses on Friday to initiate the referral process.
