Southwark Council Cost of Living Fund
We have set up a new Cost of Living Fund for 2023 to 2024 to continue to provide financial support to low-income households at risk of hardship due to the higher cost of food, energy, and other essentials.
Top Ups to School Uniform Grants
Early in the autumn term, we will make top-up payments to eligible low-income families that received School Uniform Grants because they have one or more children transferring to a Southwark secondary school at the start of the new school year.
The top-up payments are worth £55 and increase the value of a School Uniform Grant to £100 this year.
The top-ups will be paid in the form of Post Office Payout vouchers. You don’t need to make a separate application for the top-up payment. If you were awarded a School Uniform Grant you should receive your top-up by email or post.
Cost of Living payments for vulnerable households
In the autumn we will make Cost of Living payments to vulnerable low-income households who get help with housing costs (housing benefit) but don’t get other means-tested welfare benefits.
Payments will be worth between £250 and £400. Households who live in homes that are energy inefficient and harder to heat will receive a higher payment.
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 support equal to the value of a daily school meal during all the school holidays this year.
The support is worth £3 per day per eligible child.
Previously payments were made by schools but starting from the October half-term holiday all payments will be made by the council in the form of Post Office Payout vouchers.
Healthy free school meals for more secondary school children
The council already provides Healthy Free School Meals for all children attending Southwark primary schools. This school year, we will provide Healthy Free School Meals for more secondary school children.
If you're experiencing a crisis now and need emergency support with food, energy, or other essentials you can apply to the Southwark Emergency Support Scheme (SESS).
Page last updated: 14 September 2023
