Purpose

See attached ODR for details

Content

To accept the Government’s allocation of
£5,268,505.04 for the Household Support Fund from 1 April
2025 to 31 March 2026 and to agree to distribute this fund through
the following one-off crisis support awards for food and energy to
vulnerable households on Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction,
Universal Credit (housing element) and Free School Meals (means
tested):

£100 energy payment to all qualifying households.
? £100 food payment to households with 1 dependent
child.
? £200 food payment to households with 2 dependent
children.
? £300 food payment to households with 3 or more dependent
children.

In addition, to provide preventative support by allocating
£150k from the fund to support Doncaster’s Food Banks
and Hygiene Bank. This will be managed by the Public Health
Team.

Also, an allocation of £100k, will be given to support
community hubs to help vulnerable households in the community. This
will also be managed by the Public Health Team, who will develop
criteria to distribute the funds via the regional hubs to support
organisations and individuals who are assisting vulnerable
households. These might be for example through the provision of
warm spaces, local community support, signposting and advice.

Lastly, an amount of £400k will be allocated for an adapted
Local Assistance Scheme. those people who are in crisis that cannot
be supported through the existing Local Assistance Scheme because
of the limitations of the qualifying criteria, notably that they
are in receipt of maximum HB or CTR. This new scheme will give
officers the discretion to provide support to those at the margins
who are just missing out.

Any funds remaining at the end of the scheme, once the above have
been awarded will be added to the adapted Local Assistance
Scheme.

Alternative options considered

See attached ODR for details