The Haringey Support Fund

• Support we provide 
• Payments
• Who can apply 
• Who can't apply 
• How we prioritise applications 
• How to apply 
• What happens after you apply 
• If you disagree with our decision 
• Further support 
• Full policy document 
• Contact

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 payments for: 

• help with your basic living needs: 
  • items for day to day living such as food and essential household items 
  • utilities including gas and electricity reconnection 
  • help with essential clothing and footwear  
  • help with other basic living needs, such as support to pay broadband bills where there is an urgent need 
• items to help you remain in your home or when moving into a new home like: 
  • essential household appliances like a fridge or washing machine  
  • bedding, mattresses and some types of furniture 
  • cooking equipment, or other essential kitchen items 

As we cannot know every challenge you may face, we accept applications for other essential support which cannot be budgeted for. 

Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

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Payments 

If your application is successful, we will either: 

• give you a voucher  
• make a BACS transfer into your bank account – the bank account must be yours 

Amount of payment 

We normally only make payments for one type of support or item.  

In some circumstances we may make a payment for several types of support or items. The total amount for this type of payment won’t be 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 

Previous HSF payments 

You cannot apply if you received a HSF payment in the last 12 months.  

Immigration control and no recourse to public funds 

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 

To ensure we make payments to those most in need of support, we prioritise, in no particular order, the following: 

• those with disabilities 
• those with health problems 
• households with elderly residents (over 70) 
• households with children (under 18) 
• single parents 
• those who are, have previously been, or are 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 

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How to apply 

We are writing to some residents we’ve identified as eligible for support with basic living needs this winter through HSF. If you haven’t received a letter, we encourage you to still 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 online for the Haringey Support Fund: 

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

If you need help to fill in the form, contact our Financial Support Team. 

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What happens after you apply 

We aim to process your application and make a decision within 21 working days.  

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

If you haven’t heard from us in 21 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 Financial Support Team. 

See also our Haringey, Here to Help page 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

Contact us at:

• HaringeySupportFund@Haringey.gov.uk

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