The Household Support Fund has announced additional support up until the end of March 2025, funded by UK Government.
Bedford Borough Council will be prioritising support to those residents most in need. This includes providing food vouchers to families receiving free school meals during the school holidays and helping homeless residents.
Payments to households of pensionable age
Applications for this phase of the Household Support Fund have now closed.
The Council is now accepting applications from households where the Council Tax payer is of pensionable age and are in receipt of a Council Tax Support claim.
If you meet the above criteria and have previously applied to the Household Support Fund and are still eligible, you will automatically receive a payment of £150 directly into your bank account in December 2024. You do not need to make a new application.
If you have recently changed bank accounts, please email HSF@bedford.gov.uk and with a copy or photo of your new bank details.
You can send a screenshot of your online bank details or a bank statement, but this must include your name, account number and sort code. This does not need to include your balance or any transactions. Failure to provide these details may incur a delay in your payment.
For those households who have not made an application before or have previously been refused due to not being eligible, please make a new application.
Please note, you will be required to provide evidence of your bank account to enable direct payments to be made.
Applications closed on 28 February 2025.
Payments to households with families
Applications for this phase of the Household Support Fund have now closed.
The Council is now accepting applications from households where the Council Tax payer is of working age, dependent children are included in the household, and are in receipt of a Council Tax Support claim. A dependent child is a person aged 0-15, or a person aged 16-18 who is in full time education that you would be entitled to claim child benefit for.
If you meet the above criteria and have previously applied to the Household Support Fund and are still eligible, you will automatically receive a payment of £150 directly into your bank account in February 2025. You do not need to make a new application.
If you have recently changed bank accounts, please email HSF@bedford.gov.uk and with a copy or photo of your new bank details.
You can send a screenshot of your online bank details or a bank statement, but this must include your name, account number and sort code. This does not need to include your balance or any transactions. Failure to provide these details may incur a delay in your payment.
For those households who have not made an application before or have previously been refused due to not being eligible, please make a new application. Please note, you will be required to provide evidence of your bank account to enable direct payments to be made.
Applications closed on 28 February 2025.
If you are experiencing financial hardship with energy or water relating costs and are not eligible for the above payments to households, please contact our partnering agencies below.
Partnership organisations
Bedford Borough Council is working in partnership with the following organisations to assist Bedford Borough residents who may be experiencing hardship with energy costs relating to energy and water. If you are experiencing financial difficulty and need assistance, please contact the below organisations to make an application for the Household Support Fund.
Bedford Citizens Advice
In Person: drop in is open Monday – Thursday 9:30am – 4:00pm.
Tel: 01234 867944 Monday to Thursday 9.45am - 1pm
FACES (Family and Children's Early Help Services) Bedford
Email: office@facesbedford.org
Tel 01234 270601
Visit UK Government's Cost of Living Hub to find out what support is available to help with the cost of living. This includes income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel.
