New financial support has been unveiled for households struggling with rising bills, as two Cost of Living payments worth a combined £300 have been announced for eligible residents in parts of the UK.
Who Can Apply for the Household Support Fund?
The support is being delivered through the Household Support Fund (HSF), administered locally by Citizens Advice Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP). To qualify, applicants must meet several strict criteria.
You must live within the BCP Council area, be aged over 16, and be living independently from parents or carers. Crucially, you must not have sufficient money to pay for essential living costs.
Successful applicants will receive a grant voucher with a maximum value of £150, and a household can be awarded a maximum of two such grants, totalling £300, subject to available funds.
Application Details and Crucial Deadline
The charity has confirmed it will only accept grant applications from qualifying BCP households. The process requires providing proof of identity, BCP Council residency, and detailed household financial information.
This includes a summary for every person in the household not in full-time education, and proof of income such as a recent bank statement may also be required.
Potential applicants must act swiftly, as the last remaining application window is currently open and will close on Friday 30 January 2026, at 4.30pm.
High Demand and Important Considerations
The council has issued a clear warning that demand for HSF grants is exceptionally high. They state that it may take up to 8 weeks for an application to be processed.
Furthermore, receipt of a grant is not guaranteed. The council explicitly notes that applications may be rejected due to a lack of available funds, despite efforts to support as many eligible households as possible.
Grant vouchers will be issued solely to the named applicant or a person they nominate. Both Citizens Advice BCP and BCP Council reserve the right to alter application periods and eligibility criteria depending on the remaining HSF grant funds, with any changes notified on their official webpage.
