COVID Winter Grant Scheme: guidance for local councils
Information for local councils on the COVID Winter Grant Scheme funding to support vulnerable households.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance and grant determination are for local councils responsible for administering the COVID Winter Grant Scheme across England.
On Sunday 8 November 2020, the government announced a significant package of extra targeted financial support for those in need over the winter period. This included the £170 million COVID Winter Grant Scheme, which was made available from 1 December 2020 to 31 March 2021 across England.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provided the grant scheme funding to county councils and unitary authorities (including metropolitan councils and London boroughs) who administered the scheme and provided direct assistance to support families with children, other vulnerable households and individuals. The grant was used to support those most in need across England with the cost of food, energy and water bills and other associated costs.
On Monday 22 February 2021, the government announced in its COVID-19 Response 2021 roadmap an extension of £59 million of extra targeted financial support for those in need over the winter period across England, covering the period from 1 April 2021 until 16 April 2021. This was in addition to the scheme that ran from 1 December 2020 to 31 March 2021.
The extended scheme continued to provide direct assistance to support families with children, other vulnerable households and individuals.
Updates to this page
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Added link to guidance on the COVID Local Support Grant extension from 21 June to 30 September 2021.
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Updated the overview. Updated the document names for the COVID Winter Grant Scheme guidance, determination and MI spreadsheet to show the period the guidance relates to. Added COVID Local Support Grant determination, COVID Local Support Grant guidance, COVID Local Support Grant MI template for the period 17 April 2021 to 20 June 2021.
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Added COVID Winter Grant Scheme determination: April 2021. Updated the overview. Updated COVID Winter Grant Scheme guidance for local councils. Updated COVID Winter Grant Scheme management information spreadsheet.
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Added HTML versions of COVID Winter Grant Scheme guidance for local councils and COVID Winter Grant Scheme determination.
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Added link to help for individuals.
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Added COVID Winter Grant Scheme management information.
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Added COVID Winter Grant Scheme guidance, determination and indicative funding levels.
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Added HTML version of COVID Winter Grant Scheme letter.
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First published.