There are many ways you can find support to help yourself and your family as household costs rise
Crisis support through the online application scheme
An online crisis support scheme opened in September 2025 as part of the Household Support Fund. It offered one off payments of £250 to people going through a serious financial emergency.
The payments are to help pay for basic essentials, like:
food
important utility bills
other urgent household costs
Although the main part of the application scheme has now closed, some money was kept aside to continue helping residents who need emergency support for the rest of the financial year.
You can still apply for a one off payment of £250 if you are facing severe financial difficulty and need help straight away.
Who can apply
To be eligible, you must:
Not have received a Household Support Payment since 1 April 2025
If you do not meet the criteria, other help options are available on this webpage. Help is available from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Help with the Cost of Living
The Government has extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) for another twelve months. From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, £742 million worth of funding is available to councils.
The Government has confirmed the funding amount for Dudley Council will be £4.6 million.
The fund is to provide support to households experiencing financial hardship or crisis. The fund helps to buy food, pay essential utility bills, or meet other essential living or housing costs. It should be for people in exceptional cases of genuine emergency. The Fund may also be used to prevent poverty and build local resilience.
To make it easier for residents to get support, we are sharing most of the Fund with support teams and community and voluntary groups. They will use the money to provide wider support for local people.
The following services have received Household support Fund to help people in crisis from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
The government assists the most vulnerable households with the high cost of energy through a number of payment schemes.
There is also local help from the council’s Dudley Energy Advice Line (DEAL), which offers information, advice and support. Help in a crisis may include:
Temporary heating
Fuel vouchers
Heated blankets
DEAL helps residents understand bills and with fuel debt, assists with energy efficiency and can support you to apply for grants, plus access funding for insulation measures and replacement heating systems.
Adult Social Care is the term given to the care and support that people may need to help them live the life they choose. From equipment, to home adaptions, to home care, support and other services.
Some support covers a short-term service to help people get back on their feet after an illness or hospital stay. Or they may have longer term care and support needs.
If you are worried you may lose your home because you are struggling to afford your rent or mortgage payments, seek advice early to get help and advice.
Dudley Family Hubs have received a small amount of Household Support Fund to support families with children who are under 5. If you need further support, please contact your local family hub. Eligibility criteria will apply.
Dudley schools have received a small amount of Household Support Fund to help with their school hardship fund. You can access this by talking to the school your children attend. Eligibility criteria will apply.
Voluntary sector support
We have worked with Dudley CVS to reach further residents who are vulnerable. So, some charities have received money from the Household Support Fund.
Charities may supply things such as household items, food packages, baby items and education / employment / interview support, but only with a referral from a professional.
If you have a support worker or you are already supported by the service, you can ask for Household Support, dependent on your needs.
We cannot guarantee that you will receive the funding through these charities as eligibility criteria will apply.
Supports with home starter packs, community supermarket, education and employment.
Black Country Foodbank assists vulnerable residents who are struggling to buy food; however, you need a food bank voucher from a professional to access support.
The warehouse is open Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm
Black Country Foodbank Albion Street Brierley Hill DY5 3EE
Barnardo’s will be directly supporting Dudley’s vulnerable children and their families within their service. The service provides 1-1 therapeutic support and awareness sessions for young people who are at medium to high risk of CSE within Dudley.
Barnado's Support
Barnardo’s provides a wide range of support to young people this includes:
Dudley Children in Care resilience service- (referrals only through Virtual School)
Dudley Advocacy service for children in care – (referrals from everyone)
Dudley First Steps – counselling for child victims of sexual abuse- (referrals from everyone)
Dudley BASE -support for victims of child sexual exploitation- (referrals only through children’s social care)
Dudley MARAC -1-1 support for child victims of domestic abuse heard at MARAC (referrals through MARAC only)
Dudley Safer Accommodation – 1-1 support for child victims of domestic abuse that are now in safer accommodation (referrals through CHADD and housing)
Please note: Household Support from this service is only available if you are already being supported by Barnardo’s
To make a referral for a young person to access any of the services above use the contact details below.
Families of children from conception to age two can access guidance and support on a range of topics through Start for Life, which is delivered as part of Dudley’s Family Hub Network
Dudley Holiday Activities provides free school holiday activities and food for children aged 5 – 16 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and other vulnerable groups
The Department of Work and Pensions allocate a 5% administration cost. In previous funds Dudley and its partners has been within this allocation.
The Government's 2024 Spring budget extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) for another 6 months. Known as Household Support Fund 5 (HSF5), it covered 1 April to 30 September 2024, with Dudley receiving £2,625,519.
The Government's 2024 Autumn budget extended the Household Support Fund (HSF) for another 6 months. Known as Household Support Fund 6 (HSF6), it covered 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, with Dudley receiving £2,625,519.
