Find out about the Household Support Fund and other financial help available in North Yorkshire.
Please select your vouchers by 15 August 2022
If you’ve had a letter telling you that you’re eligible for a Household Support Fund payment you must select your e-vouchers by Monday 15 August 2022 when the scheme ends. You can enter the code on your letter to select your vouchers using the button below.
About the Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund was set up to help people who are struggling with the increase in living costs and feeling the financial pressure of paying their bills.
The Government announced a second phase of the Household Support Fund scheme in March 2022.
People who are eligible as of 31 May 2022 will get a single Household Support Fund e-voucher payment to pay for food and other essentials over the coming months.
For this second phase of the Household Support Fund, the eligibility criteria has been extended so that we can help more people across North Yorkshire. We’re working closely with borough and district councils to get e-voucher payments to people as quickly as possible.
The remainder of the money from central Government has been distributed among other funding pots in the county, which can be accessed now by residents who may struggle to afford basic necessities. This includes the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF), Warm and Well in North Yorkshire and local food banks.
Everyone who is eligible will receive a letter by 13 July. The letter will include information about how to claim and use the e-voucher.
The letter also includes information about how you can get help to claim your e-voucher if you don’t have an email address or access to a printer or if you are less confident using technology.
If you are eligible, you can find out how much you will get and access your voucher using our eligibility checker. You’ll need your national insurance number, date of birth and postcode to use the eligibility checker.
Check your eligibility and get your voucher code
If you have received a letter you can enter your code to select the vouchers below.
Enter your code to select the vouchers here
Everyone who is eligible will receive a letter by 13 July. The letter will include information about how to claim and use the e-voucher.
The following groups will receive a single voucher in the amounts below.
- If you are getting help to pay your council tax bill through the means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 and have a child under the age of 19 living at home you will receive a £150 e-voucher.
- If you are a single person of pension age, or in a couple where both people are pension age, getting the maximum discount to help pay your council tax bill through the means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 you will receive a £150 e-voucher.
- If you are working age, don’t have children and you’re getting the maximum discount to help pay your council tax bill through the means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 you will receive a £75 e-voucher. If you are a pensioner living with someone of working age you will receive a £75 e-voucher.
The eligibility criteria of support to pay your council tax bill does not include the 25% council tax reduction if you are the only adult living in the property.
People who are eligible will get one payment per household apart from a small number of exceptions.
You’ll find more information about the payment scenarios in the frequently asked questions section below.
Frequently asked questions
Eligibility for a Household Support Fund e-voucher payment
To find out now if you’re eligible for a Household Support Fund e-voucher payment, you can use our online checker. If you are eligible, you can find out how much you will get and access your voucher using our eligibility checker. You’ll need your national insurance number, date of birth and postcode to use the eligibility checker.
Council Tax Reduction Scheme discounts vary depending on where you live. You can find more information about the Council Tax Reduction scheme in your area using the links below.
- Craven District Council
- Hambleton District Council
- Harrogate Borough Council
- Richmindshire District Council
- Ryedale District Council
- Scarborough Borough Council
- Selby District Council
If you’re not sure which borough or district council you pay council tax to, you can check who you pay your council tax to on GOV.UK.
To get a Household Support Fund e-voucher payment, North Yorkshire residents must meet the eligibility criteria set out on this page as of 31 May 2022.
The Government set out the criteria for Household Support Fund eligibility to include households with children and pensioners, and that a specific amount of funding should be used to support these groups. We’re using the remaining funding to help as many working age households as possible too, as well as funding other support schemes across the county which can be accessed now by residents who may struggle to afford basic necessities. This includes the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF), Warm and Well in North Yorkshire and local food banks.
If you are a pensioner with a partner who is below pension age getting the maximum discount to help pay your council tax bill through the means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 you will receive a £75 e-voucher.
If you live with someone else who isn’t your partner and you are jointly liable for paying council tax, provided that you both meet the Household Support Fund eligibility criteria then you will both get an e-voucher payment. The amount will depend on your ages and circumstances, as set out in the ‘How will I know if I’m eligible for a Household Support Fund e-voucher payment and how much is it?’ FAQ answer.
The Household Support Fund e-voucher amount does not depend on how many children you have. If you are getting help to pay your council tax bill through the means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 and have a child under the age of 19 living at home you will receive a £150 e-voucher.
The Government set out the criteria for Household Support Fund eligibility to include households with children and pensioners, and that a specific amount of funding should be used to support these groups. We’re using the remaining funding to help as many working age households as possible too, which is why the amount is different. The £75 figure is based on dividing the remaining funding between people who are of working age and receive the maximum reduction in means-tested council tax support, as well as funding other support schemes across the county which can be accessed now by residents who may struggle to afford basic necessities. This includes the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF), Warm and Well in North Yorkshire and local food banks.
In Spring 2022, the government announced a package of support known as the Energy Bills Rebate. This includes discounts on energy bills and a one-off payment of £150 to help people with rising energy costs. This payment is being managed through borough and district councils and it is different to the Household Support Fund.
Getting a Household Support Fund e-voucher payment
If you are eligible because you meet the criteria set out on this page you will get a letter from us by 13 July. The letter will tell you how to claim and use your Household Support Fund e-voucher payment.
To claim your e-voucher you will need access to an email account.
You don’t need to do anything to apply for the Household Support Fund e-voucher payment, if you are eligible you will get your letter by 13 July.
If you’re not confident with technology or you don’t have an email address or access to a printer, don’t worry. You can get support to claim your Household Support Fund e-voucher in a number of ways.
You could ask a family member or friend to help you access your e-voucher following the three easy steps in your letter.
You could also take your Household Support Fund letter into your local library or some local borough and district council offices. You can find a list of borough and district council offices below. A member of the team at any of these venues will be able to help you claim and print your e-voucher free of charge.
If you do need help from a library or district council office please also bring one of the following items as well as this letter:
- credit or debit card
- bank or building society cheque/savings book
- valid passport
- driving licence
- NHS medical card
- photo ID card (foreign national, military, police warrant, Royal Mail employee, NHS or senior citizen bus pass
Craven
Craven District Council
1 Belle Vue Square
Broughton Road
Skipton
BD23 1FJ
Hambleton
Hambleton District Council
Civic Centre
Stone Cross
Rotary Way
Northallerton
DL6 2UU
Harrogate
Harrogate Borough Council
Civic Centre
St Lukes Avenue
Harrogate
HG1 2AE
Richmondshire
Richmondshire District Council
Mercury House
Station Road
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL10 4JX
Reeth community office
Hudson House
Anvil Square
Reeth
North Yorkshire
DL11 6SZ
Ryedale
Ryedale District Council
Ryedale House
Malton
YO17 7HH
Scarborough
Scarborough Borough Council
Town Hall
St Nicholas Street
Scarborough
YO11 2HG
Whitby Jobcentre Plus Office
6 Bobbies Bank
Whitby
YO21 1QZ
Selby
Selby District Council
Civic Centre
Selby
YO8 9FT
You must select your e-voucher by 15 August 2022 when the scheme ends.
If you’ve lost your letter and don’t know your voucher code, you can access it online by using the eligibility checker.
You’ll need your national insurance number, date of birth and postcode to use the eligibility checker.
If you need help you can call our customer service centre on 01609 780780 Monday to Friday from 8am to 5:30pm, or if you’d prefer to hear from us by email you can fill in a contact form.
We’re sending out letters to people who meet the eligibility criteria as of 31 May 2022. Everyone who is eligible will receive a letter by 13 July 2022.
If you haven’t had a letter and you think you’re eligible, you can use our eligibility checker.
You’ll need your national insurance number, date of birth and postcode to use the eligibility checker.
We’ve been working alongside the borough and district councils to identify people who match the eligibility criteria of getting support to pay their council tax bill through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Council Tax Reduction Scheme discounts vary depending on where you live. You can find more information about the Council Tax Reduction scheme in your area using the links below.
- Craven District Council
- Hambleton District Council
- Harrogate Borough Council
- Richmindshire District Council
- Ryedale District Council
- Scarborough Borough Council
- Selby District Council
If you’re not sure which borough or district council you pay council tax to, you can check who you pay your council tax to on GOV.UK.
If you started receiving means-tested help to pay your council tax bill after 31 May 2022 then you won’t be able to claim the Household Support Fund e-voucher payment. You may be eligible for other financial support, such as the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF) and Warm and Well in North Yorkshire, a scheme that helps people struggling to pay their energy bills. You can find more information about both schemes at these pages.
We’ve been working alongside the borough and district councils to identify people who match the eligibility criteria and will be able to claim their payment from this funding. The Department for Work and Pensions have given us discretion to use existing benefits data to make sure that the funding goes to people who qualify. For more information on how we process your personal data, go to privacy notices.
If you think you’re eligible for the Household Support Fund e-voucher payment as of 31 May 2022 and you’ve recently moved house, you need to contact your local borough or district council so they can update your details.
You can contact the borough or district council for your area using the links below.
- Craven District Council
- Hambleton District Council
- Harrogate Borough Council
- Richmindshire District Council
- Ryedale District Council
- Scarborough Borough Council
- Selby District Council
If you’re not sure which borough or district council you pay council tax to, you can check who you pay your council tax to on GOV.UK.
Using your Household Support Fund e-vouchers
An e-voucher is an electronic voucher that is sent on email and can be used in a store or when shopping online. They are sometimes known as a virtual gift card. You can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website.
Payments will be made as an e-voucher and you can choose from nine different supermarkets including Aldi, ASDA, Farm Foods, Iceland, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. You’ll be able to use your e-vouchers in store, although ASDA, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose also offer the option of online shopping. You can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website. You can also check for supermarket home delivery slots.
You can use your e-vouchers to pay for food and other essentials. Vouchers cannot be used to pay for fuel, scratch cards/lottery tickets, tobacco products or pre-paid gift cards. Each supermarket has different exemptions, you can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website.
You can choose to split your e-voucher across one or all nine of the supermarkets involved in the scheme, however, once you’ve made your selection you won’t be able to make any changes.
The e-voucher should be used by the person named in the Household Support Fund letter.
You don’t need to spend your e-voucher all in one go, but you’ll need to select which supermarkets you would like to spend your e-voucher with. After you’ve decided which supermarkets you would like to spend your e-vouchers with, you won’t be able to change this later on. Each supermarket involved in the scheme will have different terms and conditions for using their e-vouchers. You can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website.
There are four supermarkets offering the option of online shopping with delivery. ASDA, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. You’ll be able to choose a supermarket that suits your needs when you select your e-vouchers. You can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website. You can also check for supermarket home delivery slots.
You can check your balance online and over the phone, depending on which supermarket you select for your e-vouchers. You can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website.
You’ll have until 15 August 2022 to select your e-voucher choices and depending on which supermarket you choose will depend on how long you have to use your e-vouchers. You can find more information about the terms and conditions of each of the supermarkets involved here and on the voucher provider website.
Your e-vouchers will be sent to the email address you provide, but if you can’t see them in your inbox please check your junk folder. If you still can’t find the voucher email you can call the voucher provider, Hawk Select, on 0800 5872294. Their opening hours are Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm. Find other ways to contact Hawk Select, including email. If you do need to get in touch with Hawk Select, someone from their customer service team will get back to you within 24 hours. You can also contact Hawk Select if your e-voucher doesn’t work.
If you’d prefer to use a printed voucher and you don’t have online access, you can take your Household Support Fund letter, ID and National Insurance number into your local library or some local borough and district council offices. You can find a list of borough and district council offices below. A member of the team at any of these venues will be able to help you claim and print your e-voucher free of charge.
You could also ask a family member or friend to help you access your e-voucher following the three easy steps in your letter.
Craven
Craven District Council
1 Belle Vue Square
Broughton Road
Skipton
BD23 1FJ
Hambleton
Hambleton District Council
Civic Centre
Stone Cross
Rotary Way
Northallerton
DL6 2UU
Harrogate
Harrogate Borough Council
Civic Centre
St Lukes Avenue
Harrogate
HG1 2AE
Richmondshire
Richmondshire District Council
Mercury House
Station Road
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL10 4JX
Reeth community office
Hudson House
Anvil Square
Reeth
North Yorkshire
DL11 6SZ
Ryedale
Ryedale District Council
Ryedale House
Malton
YO17 7HH
Scarborough
Scarborough Borough Council
Town Hall
St Nicholas Street
Scarborough
YO11 2HG
Whitby Jobcentre Plus Office
6 Bobbies Bank
Whitby
YO21 1QZ
Selby
Selby District Council
Civic Centre
Selby
YO8 9FT
Your vouchers cannot be replaced if they are lost, damaged or stolen so please look after them the same way you would cash.
Other support available
The remainder of the money from central Government has been distributed among other funding pots in the county, which can be accessed now by residents who may struggle to afford basic necessities.
You may be able to get other financial support such as the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF) and Warm and Well in North Yorkshire, a scheme that helps people struggling to pay their energy bills.
Citizen’s Advice North Yorkshire provide free, confidential and impartial advice to help people find a way forward with whatever problems they face, including money and benefits. You can get advice in person, over the phone, on a web chat or by email by contacting Citizen’s Advice North Yorkshire direct.
Free school meals are also available to all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils and to all school age children whose parents receive certain benefits. You can apply for Free school meals here. For help in the summer holidays, the Holiday Activity and Food programme, known locally as FEAST, will be providing a wide range of activities for children and young people in North Yorkshire. The activities are free to children on benefits-related free school meals and include a hot meal or packed lunch each day. Get more information about the Holiday Activity and Food programme.
If you’re on a low income or claim benefits you can apply for a reduction in the council tax you pay. Find information about the council tax reduction/support scheme and a postcode checker that will take you to your local borough or district council.
You will need to be getting means-tested support to pay your council tax bill through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme as of 31 May 2022 to be eligible for the Household Support Fund.
You can still apply to the North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund even if you’ve received a Household Support Fund e-voucher payment. Find out about North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF)