Household Support Fund 2026 Energy Bills Guide: What Ended and What Replaced It

Did the Household Support Fund End in 2026?

Yes, the Household Support Fund in England ended on 31 March 2026 and has been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund from 1 April 2026. According to GOV.UK, £742 million covered the final HSF period, while the replacement scheme now runs to 31 March 2029.

That date matters because many households still search for HSF even though councils are moving onto the new framework.

According to GOV.UK’s cost-of-living support page, help with essential costs remains available from local councils in England after April 2026. But it is now being routed through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund rather than through another short HSF extension.

For wider context, read our energy bill support 2026 explained, Warm Home Discount 2026 eligibility guide, and Pension Credit 2026 energy support guide.

What Could the Household Support Fund Be Used for Before It Ended?

Before it ended, the Household Support Fund could be used by councils to help vulnerable households with energy, water, food and other essentials. According to GOV.UK’s final HSF guidance, the fund could cover energy bills for any domestic fuel, including oil and portable gas cylinders, and could also support longer-term prevention through insulation or energy-efficient household items.

That made HSF more flexible than many one-off cash support schemes.

The final GOV.UK guidance says support could include:

1. crisis help with energy, food and water
2. wider essentials such as clothing or phone bills
3. one-off payments to prevent a crisis
4. insulation or efficient appliances that reduce future bills

According to the same guidance, councils had discretion in how they identified households and delivered support, including cash, vouchers or in-kind help. That local discretion is why HSF support looked different from one borough or county to the next.

What Has Replaced HSF After 1 April 2026?

HSF has now been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which is a broader and more structured local support scheme for England. According to GOV.UK’s Crisis and Resilience Fund guidance, the new scheme runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029 and focuses on three outcomes: crisis support, financial resilience and stronger local support networks.

That is a material policy shift, not only a rebrand.

According to GOV.UK’s March 2026 press release, the new Crisis and Resilience Fund is backed by £1 billion a year across the UK and brings together the old Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments into a more streamlined structure. That means local help is still available, but the rules and delivery style are changing.

Can the New Fund Still Help With Energy Bills?

Yes, the new Crisis and Resilience Fund can still help with energy bills, but it is designed to be more targeted and needs-based than HSF. According to GOV.UK’s CRF guidance, authorities can provide crisis support for low-income households facing a financial shock and can also fund resilience services to reduce future crises.

That means support may look less like broad blanket awards and more like tailored local help.

Under the current CRF model, councils can support:

1. essential costs during a financial shock
2. housing shortfalls and related urgent pressures
3. advice and resilience services to prevent repeat crisis
4. joined-up local referral pathways rather than one isolated payment

According to GOV.UK’s policy statement for 2026-27 to 2028-29, the Crisis and Resilience Fund brings together support that previously sat in separate pots. So households should expect local councils to ask more questions about need, vulnerability and the type of support that will actually stabilise the situation.

What Should Households Do in April 2026 if They Need Help With Bills?

If you need help with bills in April 2026, stop searching for a fresh HSF round and check your council’s current Crisis and Resilience Fund route instead. According to GOV.UK, local councils in England still provide help with essential costs, and the new fund is meant to support people facing financial shocks.

That means the route has changed, but the need-based support system is still there.

The most practical steps are:

1. check your local council’s current cost-of-living or crisis-support page
2. look for Crisis and Resilience Fund, not only Household Support Fund
3. gather evidence of income, essential outgoings and any immediate financial shock
4. check whether other support such as Pension Credit or Warm Home Discount also applies

According to GOV.UK’s CRF guidance, the aim is not only to solve the immediate crisis but also to improve longer-term financial resilience. That can mean councils signposting residents to debt advice, income-maximisation help or housing support rather than making a one-off payment alone.

What Does This Mean for London and Surrey Households?

For London and Surrey households, the end of HSF matters because many residents still need crisis help with energy costs even after April 2026’s average £150 bill reduction. According to GOV.UK and Ofgem’s February 2026 price-cap data, vulnerable households can remain under pressure because the average capped dual-fuel bill is still £1,641.

That local implication is strongest where:

1. income is low and bills are volatile
2. the household has fallen behind after a financial shock
3. the home is expensive to heat because of poor insulation
4. short-term help needs to be paired with a longer-term upgrade plan

According to GOV.UK’s HSF guidance, even the final HSF model allowed councils to support insulation or efficient appliances to reduce future bills. That logic remains relevant in London and Surrey because the best answer is often not only emergency support, but reducing the home’s running costs permanently where possible.

You may also want to read our home insulation grants 2026 guide, winter 2026 heat loss reduction priorities, and Warm Homes Plan 2026 homeowner summary.

How Electromatic Can Help

If local emergency support helps only temporarily, Electromatic can assess whether insulation, controls or the heating system are the deeper reason your bills stay high. According to Ofgem, the average capped dual-fuel bill is still £1,641, so a structurally inefficient home can keep recreating the same pressure after crisis support has been used.

We help homeowners across London, Surrey and nearby TW areas work out whether the next step is insulation, solar, battery storage or a heat pump route supported by the BUS grant, subject to eligibility. We work under MCS certification via our accredited umbrella partner, so established low-carbon heating routes follow the correct compliance framework.

Book your free home survey →

Call us: 07718 059 284 | Email: admin@electromatic.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

The Household Support Fund still matters in 2026 because many people search for it after it has already ended. According to GOV.UK, HSF ended on 31 March 2026 and has now been replaced by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which is why these are the questions worth checking first.

Has the Household Support Fund ended in 2026?

Yes in England. GOV.UK’s final HSF guidance covered the period to 31 March 2026, and the new Crisis and Resilience Fund started from 1 April 2026.

Can I still get help with energy bills from my council?

Yes, potentially. Local councils in England can still provide support with essential costs through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, but the route and criteria are now different.

Do I apply for HSF or the Crisis and Resilience Fund now?

From April 2026, you should usually look for the Crisis and Resilience Fund or your council’s current crisis-support page. Searching only for HSF may lead you to outdated pages.

How long does the new replacement fund run?

GOV.UK says the Crisis and Resilience Fund runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. That gives councils a longer settlement than the short HSF extensions.

Is the new fund still only for emergency cash?

No. The new model still includes crisis support, but it also aims to improve financial resilience and strengthen local support networks so that repeat crises are less likely.

The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute financial, legal, or technical advice. Energy savings estimates are based on typical UK household data from the Energy Saving Trust and Ofgem (April 2026 price cap). Actual savings depend on your property type, insulation levels, energy usage patterns, and electricity tariff. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant of £7,500 is subject to eligibility criteria set by Ofgem — not all properties qualify. Electromatic M&E Ltd operates under MCS certification via an accredited umbrella partner. All installations comply with Building Regulations Part L and MCS standards. E&OE.

Written by Electromatic M&E Ltd — ASHP & Solar installer, London & Surrey (electromatic.uk)

Last updated: April 2026 | Electromatic M&E Ltd, Company No. 13837345