Household Support Fund extended to end of March 2026

The Household Support Fund, a government-funded cost-of-living scheme distributed by local councils, is running until the end of March 2026, according to Which?¹. The scheme was extended in the Spring Budget earlier this year¹.

Under the scheme, local authorities receive pots of cash which they use to provide help and support for people living in their area¹. Each council decides how it will spend its funding, which means the support available can vary by postcode¹. Over the past few years, support has ranged from free cash payments to supermarket and energy vouchers, and funding has also been used for food banks, heating hubs and other local organisations¹. Many councils and charities also run "warm spaces" schemes, offering free, heated community venues where people can spend time, have a hot drink or access other support over the winter¹. Which? says people can find out what help is available from their local council on its website¹.

The fund sits alongside other energy-cost support described by Which?¹. Attendance Allowance, for people over state pension age who need help with day-to-day personal care or supervision, is not means-tested and pays a lower rate of £73.90 a week or a higher rate of £110.40 a week¹. Pension credit guarantee credit tops up weekly income to £227.10 for a single person or £346.60 for a couple, with savings credit worth up to £17.30 extra a week for single people or £19.36 for couples¹. The Department for Work and Pensions says the pension credit boost is worth up to £3,900 a year on average¹. The Warm Home Discount gives eligible households a £150 discount on their electricity bill between October and March each year¹. Cold Weather Payments are £25 payments covering spells of very cold weather between November and March¹. In Scotland, the winter heating payment is worth £59.75 and will be paid from December 2025¹.

The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £200 per household, or £300 if someone is aged 80 or over¹. All pensioners receive the payment, but if income is £35,000 or more it is taken back through the tax system¹. The deadline to opt out of this year's payment was 15 September¹. Pensions minister Torsten Bell has said the government intends to keep the £35,000 limit at its current level for now, in line with other frozen tax thresholds¹. Analysis from consultants LCP suggests around half a million pensioners are expected to lose the payment over the next four years, and more than 100,000 could lose it over the next year as rising incomes push more people over the cap¹. LCP highlighted that a pensioner with an annual income of £33,600 will receive the payment this year, but a typical 4.7% increase in the state pension under the triple lock combined with an estimated 4% rise in their private pension would push their total income to around £35,027 next year, just over the cut-off¹.

Why it matters for households

The fund is a fixed pot distributed by councils rather than a national entitlement, so what a household can get depends on where it lives and on its council's decisions¹. Support has previously taken the form of cash payments, supermarket and energy vouchers, and funding for food banks and heating hubs¹. The scheme runs until the end of March 2026¹, which covers the remainder of the winter period. Households that miss out on the Winter Fuel Payment because income is at or above £35,000 may not qualify for most income-related support, though Which? notes some schemes, including Attendance Allowance, are not means-tested¹. Pension credit is described as a gateway benefit, and claiming it can also bring a free TV licence, Winter Fuel Payment and free dental treatment¹. Which? says pension credit is one of the most underclaimed benefits¹.

What happens next

The Household Support Fund runs until the end of March 2026¹. No further extension beyond that date is reported in the source. The £35,000 Winter Fuel Payment income limit is intended to stay at its current level for now, in line with other frozen tax thresholds, according to pensions minister Torsten Bell¹. LCP analysis suggests around half a million pensioners could lose the payment over the next four years¹.