LOW-INCOME households in Dorset will be able to apply for support funding from the council.

The Household Support Fund will reopen to applicants on Wednesday, August 2 and be available for anyone eligible living in the Dorset Council-governed area.

This will be the fourth round of funding for the scheme, which will open for applications at 10am.

The support will be in the form of supermarket vouchers allocated by money charity Citizens Advice.

Vouchers will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within six to eight weeks.

Households will be able to apply if they have:

  • an annual household net income of less than £30,000
  • savings of less than £16,000 and
  • have not applied for a previous household support payment within the last six months

Calculations for the annual net income should not include personal independence payments, disability living allowance, attendance allowance, carers allowance or child benefit.

Applications are limited to one per household and the next funding window for the scheme will open in the autumn. 

Cllr Laura Beddow, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for culture and communities, said: "By providing supermarket vouchers, we're making sure our residents have access to the essentials."

Anyone who needs help completing the form can phone 01305 221000 or visit a customer access point.