Help for households and cost of living support can give you more information on how to mange the cost of living. Suffolk County Council allocates Household Support Fund money to residents in the following ways:
Support for children during school holidays
Where a child is eligible for income related free school meals, families will be contacted directly by their child's school regarding supermarket voucher grants, available to them for the October half term 2024, Christmas holidays 2024 and February half term 2025. Further information is available from the Free School Meals team at freeschoolmeals@suffolk.gov.uk
If your child is currently attending a Special Independent school and you reside in Suffolk, you may be eligible for a supermarket voucher if your household meets the income thresholds for Free School Meals. Your child’s school will contact you directly with information on how to apply.
If your child is eligible for Free School Meals, but not currently on a school roll due to either; no suitable placement being available in line with their Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP); or being recently excluded from a state-funded school, you will still be eligible to receive a voucher in the school holidays. This will be issued to you directly by Suffolk County Council.
Where a child is not eligible for free school meals because they are not attending a state funded school, a family can seek support directly from the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme.
Direct support through an application to the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme
The Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS) helps those experiencing financial hardship. This could mean you are struggling to afford the basics, such as food, heating, clothing and fuel, or to pay your household bills. There are lots of reasons why you may be in hardship and if you are eligible, LWAS can provide financial help.
