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Household Support Grant

Household Support Fund April 2025 to March 2026

Using funding from the UK Government’s Household Support Grant, we’re supporting schemes from April 2025 to March 2026. This ensures our residents stay warm, well and safe.

Targeted payments

We’re sending payments to residents we know are particularly vulnerable to financial hardship. 

Payments for free school meals and pre-school children

You'll qualify for a payment if your child is:

  • already claiming means-tested free school meals in Royal Greenwich schools
  • a low-income child under 5 attending Royal Greenwich children's centres or childcare settings

We confirm eligibility through schools and early years providers. We’ll contact you by text message or email to let you know how you’ll receive the payment. 

We’ll make 3 payments:

  1. £15 per child for the May half term
  2. £50 per child for the summer holiday
  3. £50 per child for the Christmas holiday

Apply for free school meals through the council, contact your school or find out more about our children's centres.

Care-leavers and households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

In summer 2025 and winter 2026 we’ll issue payments of £250 to: 

  • Royal Greenwich care-leavers
  • vulnerable households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

We confirm eligibility through the Care Leavers’ and NRPF teams. If you’re eligible, we’ll contact you by text or email to let you know how you’ll receive the payment. If you’re not contacted and think you’re eligible, speak to your personal adviser or caseworker.

Residents in temporary hotel accommodation

We’ll issue weekly payments of £10 per person to Royal Greenwich residents that we place in temporary hotel accommodation. 

If you’re currently living in a hotel and have not received a payment, speak to your Temporary Accommodation Officer. 

Emergency Support Scheme

Our Emergency Support Scheme (ESS) provides discretionary support to Royal Greenwich residents in difficult times. For example, after a crisis like a house fire or if you’re temporarily struggling with essential payments. 

We’ve invested so the scheme can continue to support residents. It’s important to remember that:

  • any Royal Greenwich resident can apply 
  • applications are always open 
  • awards are subject to eligibility criteria 

There are 2 types of support available:

  • community support awards – to provide basic furniture and household items
  • emergency support payments - one-off cash payments

Find more information or make an application at Emergency Support Scheme. If you need support with your application, call 020 8921 2078.

Welfare rights and money advice

We’ve invested in the Greenwich Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service.

The Welfare Rights team will work one-on-one with you to:

  • resolve issues with your benefits
  • maximise your benefit entitlement

Call the public advice line on 020 8921 6375 (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 1pm) or submit an online enquiry to contact the team.

The Money Advice team will work one-on-one with you to plan how to:

  • maximise your income
  • reduce your expenditure
  • manage your debts
  • put the plan into action so you can get on top of your finances

Support from the Money Advice Team is available by specialist referral only.

Advice hubs

Advice hubs are drop-in centres in community locations around the borough. They’re run in partnership with Citizens Advice, Greenwich Housing Rights and the Plumstead Community Law Centre.

They give you the opportunity to get free, face-to-face advice on:

  • welfare benefits
  • debt
  • housing
  • immigration

Find Advice Hub locations and opening times

Funded by UK government logo