Welcome to the Dorset Council HSF Residents Fund website
The Household Support Fund (HSF) is funded by the government and administered by Dorset Council. It is designed to provide short-term financial support to vulnerable households who are struggling to afford household essentials.
Citizens Advice are managing the HSF Resident Fund applications for Dorset Council residents and vouchers will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria.
If you are not a Dorset Council resident, please contact your Local Authority for details of their scheme.
Before applying:
This limited fund is available to eligible households only. To apply, you will need to complete the online application form (see link below) and have your ID document ready to upload.
Acceptable evidence includes: Birth certificate, driving licence, passport or official ID document, Council Tax bill, welfare benefit letter, bank statement, bus pass.
A household with savings above £16,000 will not be eligible.
A household with an annual net income of over £30,000 from earned income/welfare benefits (excluding: PIP/DLA/AA/Carers Allowance/Child Benefit) will not be eligible.
When to apply
Round 4 will open for applications at 10am on the following dates:
- Thursday 7 September 2023
- Thursday 5 October 2023
- Thursday 2 November 2023
- Tuesday 5 December 2023
- Wednesday 3 January 2024
- Tuesday 6 February 2024
- Tuesday 5 March 2024
Funds are limited for each application window and the form will close when they have been allocated.
Households are unable to apply to the Dorset Council HSF Residents Fund within six months of a previous application.
For example:
If your household applied in May 2023, you will be eligible to reapply from November 2023.
If your household applied in July 2023, you will be eligible to reapply from January 2024.
It doesn’t matter which date of the month you applied.
If you have had an HSF voucher in the last six months, you may be entitled to ADDITIONAL HELP if:
- you live in a property not on mains gas supply and do not have an electric heating system;
- you live in a house of multiple occupation;
- you live in a park home;
- You are a member of the GRT Community.
If this applies to you please contact your local Citizens Advice.
If you need help completing the online application form, please ask a trusted family member, friend, or support worker to help you.
Alternatively, you can ask the Dorset Council Customer Service team or Citizens Advice to help you complete your application.
Dorset Council customer service team can be contacted on 01305 221000 or by email on [email protected]
About Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice provides free, confidential support and advice to help people find a way forward. We can help with advice on the following: benefits, debt, energy, housing, employment, food insecurity and other charitable help.
Details of how to find your nearest Citizens Advice office can be found here:
Citizens Advice in Dorset is a member of the National Citizens Advice network and are Joint Data Controllers with National Citizens Advice for all the information that you provide and which is held on our systems. Our Privacy Policy can be viewed here
Apply to the HSF Residents Fund
Return to Dorset Council Website