Four tranches of the Household Support Fund - Find a freedom of information request

These questions specifically pertain to the funding allocated to English Local Authorities as part of the UK Household Support Fund from 1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023.

There have been four tranches of the Household Support Fund so far, we are referring to the second and third tranches. The second tranche ran from April 1st - September 30th 2022.

The third tranche ran from 1st October 2022 - 31st March 2023.

We believe you were awarded £5.4m in tranche two and £5.4m in tranche three of the HSF. Please answer the following questions with separate answers for tranche two and for tranche three.

1. Please provide us with a copy of the management information return you were required to provide to the DWP for both tranche 2 and tranche 3 of the Household Support Fund.

2. Please provide a separate breakdown of how tranche two and tranche three were spent respectively:

(a) Targeted Grants

(b) Direct applications to the scheme

(c) Local Welfare Assistance Scheme

(d) Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations

(e) Other

3. (a) If you accepted applications to this fund how many did you receive in tranche two and in tranche three?

(b) How many applications were successful in each tranche?

(c) What were the eligibility requirements for applications, if any?

4. (Please answer question four for the financial year 2022/23, without splitting the information into tranche two and three)

(a) Excluding funding given to local welfare schemes or third-party organisations, how much of the HSF did you spend on helping people with furniture and appliances?

(b) If you did help people with furniture please tick (or otherwise indicate) which furniture/appliance types you provide and tell us whether these are new or preloved (e.g. Y/N, New/Preloved):

* Cooker

* Fridge

* Freezer

* Fridge Freezer

* Washing Machine

* Sofa

* Bed

* Wardrobe

* Chest of Drawers

* Table and Chairs

* Flooring (Carpets or Lino)

* Window coverings (curtains or blinds)

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you.

1. please find attached

2.  HSF2                   HSF3

a) £1,916,493.00 £1,268,520.00

b) £216,296.00    £444,451.00

c) £69,300.00       £65,160.00

d) £6,050.00         £15,000.00

e) £3,256,546.20  £3,671,555.10 *FSM eligibility-allocations to schools, EY alloca, admin

Total £5,464,685.20 £5,464,686.10

3.a)  HSF2 HSF3

        1421  2912

b)     1379 2670

c) Requirements for applications/referrals include: financial hardship due to unmanageable debt, bereavement, poor physical health or mental health, relationship breakdown, struggling with bills, victim of domestic abuse, recently homeless or rough sleeping.

Also, the eligibility criteria was for support to those deemed as 'in financial need' and engaged with the support of a referral agency and showing hardship and no DWP .

Further eligibility included applicant not receiving national cost of living support payment, liability for energy bills, in employment/selfemployment.

Should you require the attachment mentioned above please contact customerinformationservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the below reference number and this can be provided.