DORSET households struggling during the cost-of-living crisis will be able to apply for supermarket vouchers next week.

Round 4 of the Household Support Fund (HSF) will re-open for applications at 10am on Tuesday (December 5), offering a helping hand to households in the Dorset Council area.

The government scheme, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, provides support in the form of supermarket vouchers, with support allocated by Citizens Advice on behalf of Dorset Council.

Vouchers will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within six to eight weeks.

Dorset Council households will be able to apply if they have:
• an annual household net income of less than £30,000 and
• savings of less than £16,000 and
• not applied for a previous HSF payment within the last six months

Calculations for the annual net income should not include Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance or Child Benefit. Applications are limited to one per household.

Cllr Laura Beddow, Dorset Council portfolio holder for culture, communities and customer services, said: “As Round 4 of the Household Support Fund reopens on Tuesday, we want to make sure every resident in Dorset Council area gets the support they deserve.

“If you’re facing challenges, this initiative offers supermarket vouchers to help with essentials.

“If you are applying in December, please make sure you have not applied for a previous HSF payment since June 2023, as further vouchers cannot be issued and there are a very limited number of applications available for this window.

“If you do miss out on this window, another will open on Wednesday, January 3 at 10am.”

Residents should apply online via hsf.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk from 10am on Tuesday.
Find more details on the scheme, including future application window dates, visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/household-support-fund.

Anyone who needs help completing the form can call customer services on 01305 221000 or visit a customer access point.