Southwark Council Cost of Living Fund
The Cost of Living Fund is for vulnerable or low-income households at risk of hardship due to the higher cost of food, energy, and other essentials.
We run this fund. It is different from other Cost of Living support funds such as UK Government Cost of Living payments for households claiming benefits.
Who can apply for £100 from the Cost of Living Fund
To be eligible for this fund, you must:
- live in Southwark or have been placed in temporary accommodation by us
- contribute to the energy bills for where you live
- be on a low income
- not get welfare benefits such as:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
How you will get the £100 cost of living Fund payments
If you qualify, we will send you the Post Office Payout voucher worth £100, which can be used to pay for energy, food and other essentials.
Payments from the Cost of Living Fund will not stop you from receiving any other fund payments from the council.
Apply for Cost of Living Fund
The Cost of Living Fund is open.
Apply to the Cost of Living Fund
If you need help filling out the online form, please call our contact centre on 0207 525 2434, and choose option 5.
You can use our contact form if you have queries about the Cost of Living Fund.
Get help from a local organisation to use the Cost of Living Fund
We partner with voluntary and community organisations to help support vulnerable households within Southwark. If you’re referred by these partner organisations you’ll get a payment from the Southwark Cost of Living Fund. Payments will be worth £100 and will be made as Post Office Payout vouchers.
Holiday free school meals
If you have one or more children attending a Southwark school and they are eligible for free school meals, you will receive help paying for their meals during the school holidays this year.
The support is worth £3 per day (the value of a daily school meal) per eligible child.
From the October 2023 half-term holiday, we’ll make the payments using Post Office Payout vouchers, instead of your child’s school.
You can use our contact form if you have questions about holiday free school meals.
Healthy free school meals for secondary school children
We provide Healthy free school meals for all children attending Southwark primary schools. For the 2023/2024 school year, we’ll provide healthy free school meals for more secondary school children.
Holiday clubs for children aged 4 to 16
If your child gets benefits-related free school meals they can join a Food and Fun holiday club in Southwark. The clubs run fun activities and provide healthy and free food.
Find out about holiday clubs for children aged 4 to 16 during the winter, Easter and summer holidays.
Page last updated: 22 November 2023
