COM25091 Household Support Fund 7 25-26 Energy & Water Costs Support

Concepts

• worcester
• household support fund
• com25091 household support fund
• energy debt
• energy debts
• energy bills
• o current usage energy support
• vulnerable households
• o current usage energy vouchers/credit
• current round 7 funding

Location

Description

This contract will deliver an energy and water support scheme to vulnerable households as part of the delivery of the crisis support grant requirements of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Household Support Fund (HSF) Round 7. The contract will deliver the following key elements: o Current usage energy vouchers/credit to the value of £500 for families & £300 for single occupancy/couples. o Current usage energy support to the value of £75 for households with high-energy-consuming medical equipment such as but limited to, ventilators, dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators or feeding pumps etc. o Debt relief on energy bills up to £2500 - 50% contribution payment towards energy debts of up to £1000, 75% contribution payment of energy debt £1001 or higher. Higher considered in serious cases upon receipt of an exemption request. o Replacement of boilers (all fuel types) beyond economic repair & associated works, only if not eligible through retrofit schemes delivered by the supplier. o Replacement or repair of other types of heating systems e.g., storage heaters. The cost of delivery of the service itself will total £106,500, with £958,500 as the budget for the direct support to residents in the form of the support outlined above. This service has been in place since October 2021 for the first six rounds of HSF with a total funding of £602,563.17 exclusive of VAT (this figure includes current Round 7 funding of £106,500), and £723,075.804 which puts it over the threshold for Light Touch services.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• None found

Legal Justification

The Department of Work and Pensions circulated lead authorities the budget and grant criteria for the Household Support Fund Round 7 on 4 March 2025. This information was strictly embargoed until 19 March. Therefore no conversations, planning with partners or decisions could be taken until after this date and with sufficient time to discuss and agree the delivery plan for Worcestershire. The plan was developed and agreed as quickly as possible and the decision was published on the website in early April: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-04/07_roed_household_... There are clear instructions in grant information regarding the programme commencement as demonstrated by the extract from the launch letter below: "The scheme runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 and Authorities should aim to have arrangements in place as quickly as possible to support vulnerable households throughout the grant period." This programme has been delivered successfully by the VCSE provider (exceeding targets) so there are no concerns in relation to the delivery of the programme. Considering all of the above and the extremely short timescales which are not determined by the Council, a direct award with the justification of Extreme and unavoidable urgency is undertaken.

Other Information

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