The Haringey Support Fund

Haringey Here to Help logo

We recognise that some residents are experiencing financial hardship. 

The Haringey Support Fund (HSF) is a scheme to help residents who: 

  • have a low income 
  • are facing unexpected costs 
  • need help to meet their immediate needs 
  • need help to pay for essential items that are difficult to budget for

Support we provide 

What we can help with 

The scheme gives one-off emergency payments for: 

  • help with your basic living needs: 
    • items for day to day living such as food and essential household items 
    • utilities including support with gas and electricity costs
    • help towards the purchase of clothing and footwear - for example, items destroyed by flood or fire that you cannot budget to replace
    • help with other basic living needs, where there is an urgent need 
  • support towards the purchase of essential household items: 
    • a fridge or washing machine  
    • bedding, mattresses and some types of furniture 
    • cooking equipment, or other essential kitchen items 

What we cannot help with

The Haringey Support Fund is not for help with rent payments. 

If you receive Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs but still require help to pay your rent, you may be eligible for additional financial support through a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Checks

Our officers will consider all your circumstances including your household income, people living with you and all other help available to you (for example a Department for Work and Pensions budgeting loan). This is based on the funds available at the time you apply.

To make sure your needs are met and to prevent the misuse of funding, we may visit you at home or ask to see receipts for items we have approved payments for.

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Payments 

If your application is successful, we will make a BACS transfer into your bank account. The bank account must be yours.

In some circumstances we may give you a voucher instead.

Amount of payment 

Payments will be based on the information you provide and your circumstances. 

In cases where you prove more than one type of support is needed, the total payment may be up to but not more than £500.

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Who can apply 

Payments are normally only made: 

  • in exceptional circumstances, eg where there is a danger to your health or wellbeing 
  • if you have few resources to deal with the crisis 
  • when your needs can’t be met through normal benefits or personal savings 

To be considered for the payment you must: 

  • live in the London Borough of Haringey (or live in a different borough but have been housed there by Haringey Council in temporary accommodation) 
  • be over 16 
  • be, or about to be, in receipt of qualifying benefits or be on a low income 

Qualifying benefits  

Qualifying benefits include:  

  • Universal Credit 
  • Income-Based Jobseekers’ Allowance 
  • Income-Based Employment and Support Allowance 
  • Incapacity Benefit 
  • Pension Credit 
  • Income Support 
  • Housing Benefit 
  • Council Tax Support 
  • Severe Disablement Allowance 
  • Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 
  • Working Tax Credit 
  • Child Tax Credit  

Low income 

As a guide, apart from exceptional circumstances, for this scheme low income means less than: 

  • £500 after tax per week for a family 
  • £350 after tax per week for an individual 

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Who can't apply 

You cannot apply if you received a Haringey Suppot Fund payment in the last 12 months.  

You cannot apply if you are subject to immigration control or have no recourse to public funds.  

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How we prioritise applications 

The fund is only available to support residents facing an emergency or crisis - for example a recent flood or fire, extreme financial hardship or risk to health and safety.

We prioritise, in no particular order, applications from: 

  • those who have health problems 
  • households with elderly residents (over 70) 
  • households with children (under 18) 
  • single parents
  • those who are, or have previously been, at risk of becoming homeless, including those leaving temporary accommodation
  • victims of domestic abuse
  • those leaving institutional care or leaving hospital
  • those facing an emergency or crisis, such as a recent fire or flood or extreme financial hardship
  • those with disabilities

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How to apply 

You need the following information to complete your application: 

  • your/your partner’s National Insurance number or National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number 
  • a contact telephone number and email address 
  • your current full address and postcode 
  • details of benefits you receive 
  • details of your/your partner’s employment including your employer’s name, address and contact number (if applicable) 
  • details of the bank account you want the payment made to 

Apply for the Haringey Support Fund(Opens in a new window) 

If you need help to fill in the form, contact Haringey's Connected Communities team

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What happens after you apply 

We aim to process your application and make a decision within 14 working days.  

We'll let you know by email if your application is accepted. 

If you haven’t heard from us in 14 working days, please check your junk email folder before contacting us

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If you disagree with our decision 

If you aren’t happy with the outcome of your application, you can ask us to look at your case again.  

To do this you must: 

  • email us within 5 days of our decision 
  • tell us why you want us to reconsider our decision 

We will let you know the outcome of your request within 14 working days.  

This decision will be final. 

There are no appeal rights to an Independent Tribunal. 

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Further support 

If you need further support or do not have access to the internet to make an application, please contact our Connected Communities team

See also our Haringey, Here to Help pages for information on benefits and other support.

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Full policy document 

For full information on the scheme, see the Haringey Support Fund public policy document (PDF, 520KB)

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Contact

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Page last updated:

March 13, 2024