Automatic Payments

Sunderland Fuel Fund - the council had allocated £610,000 from its HSF 6 grant allocation, along with an additional council contribution of £300,000, to create the Sunderland Fuel Fund to support over 5000 pensioners. These payments were made in November / December 2024
The council will also be making payments to many adult social care users who receive Personal Budgets from Sunderland City Council and are not permanently living a Care Home. These payments will be made automatically in early 2025 to support these vulnerable residents that have low incomes and low savings. People that have received the Sunderland Fuel Fund Payment will not also receive this.
The council and Together for Children have again allocated HSF funding for vouchers for pupils eligible for means tested free school meals. This will be used to cover the Christmas 2024 holiday period, will be worth £60 per pupil, and will be distributed by the pupils' schools. The voucher will be in addition to a wide range of Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) provision across the city.