Extra Help for Reading Households This Winter

ADDITIONAL support is being made available to households in Reading who may be struggling to pay for everyday essentials, as part of the town’s Household Support Fund (HSF) scheme.

Reading Borough Council has this year received a grant of just under £2 million from Government for the scheme. The Council will regularly review this in-year budget against local need and demand to ensure it reaches residents who need the most support.  As a result, the Council is making extra HSF funding available during the second half of this year’s local programme.

As part of the second round of cost of living payments, a £150 payment will be available to residents with successful applications this winter. This is an increase of £50 from the first round of applications, where a £100 payment was available.

Extra funding will also be directed to Reading’s voluntary and community sector, who help the Council to support Reading residents in need. This includes:

• Increasing money to previously funded groups which deliver a range of food support activities, including Food Banks; Food Pantries; Food-Surplus; and Immediate Hot Meals
• Commissioning additional services from Reading Welfare Rights (Nov 2025 - March 2026) to enhance the provision of complex welfare benefits advice and advocacy to residents, helping them to maximise their available income
• Doubling funding for over 50’s activities and warm spaces

Reading Council is also funnelling additional funding toward its own Money Advice Team, which provides support for households in financial difficulties, particularly in relation to any rent or council tax arrears. The pilot programme helps the team to support long-term change for those households by offering advice and guidance. Additional capacity will also enable higher referrals from the Council Tax team, with the potential to improve council tax collection rates and reduce the need for enforcement action. 

“Reading’s updated Household Support Fund scheme will have a particular focus on ensuring residents are getting the right advice to help them maximise their income this winter, and ensuring that where there are issues the Council intervenes at an early stage to provide the necessary guidance.

 “As well as increasing payments for the second round of cost of living applications, which opens in November, the Council is also directing additional funding to groups who deliver local food banks and organisations who provide activities and warm places for over 50’s

 “We want to ensure the Government’s Household Support Fund reaches those residents and communities who require our support this winter and believe our local scheme will make a difference to households in Reading.”

Reading Council has designed a local HSF scheme to ensure the money reaches residents who need it most. This includes residents who may have difficulty paying for things like rising energy and water bills, food shopping, the high cost of housing or essentials like clothing. So far, the following support has been provided to residents:

• 3,144 cost of living vouchers of £125 issued and cashed by Pupil Premium Free School Meals (PPFSM) households
• 203 cost of living vouchers of £125 issued and cashed by Care Leavers 
• 1,720 applications for a £100 cost of living payment successfully administered 
• £70,000 provided to local voluntary and community sector organisations for cost of living support to low-income residents
• Early Years providers have agreed to participate in a Targeted Two-Year Olds pilot scheme, which started in September 2025 
• £35,000 awarded to provide school uniforms and warm clothes for children 

For the purposes of the local HSF application second phase - which opens on 3 November 2025 - households in receipt of means tested benefits, or other related state benefits (such as a Personal Independence Payment), are automatically assumed to have a low income. A £150 payment will be provided to households who fall into a number of categories.

Residents who do not receive income-based or state benefits, but who nevertheless are facing cost of living challenges, will be eligible for a basic assessment of household income, essential outgoings and savings as part of their application. The Council will then determine if support can be provided.

Residents can check on eligibility and apply online from 3 November at www.reading.gov.uk/HSF

Residents who require additional advice or help can go to www.reading.gov.uk/money-matters