How we will use and share your information

The Council will only collect data relevant to your Household Support Fund application. Your data will be held on our digital platform and will be protected using up-to-date technical and organisational security measures.

Your data will be used to:

  • Determine your eligibility for the Household Support Fund
  • Contact you about decisions or updates related to an application
  • Issue the Household Support Fund payment to your nominated Bank or Building Society account where appropriate

Your personal data will not be kept longer than necessary (in line with our existing retention schedule).

Information collected during the application process will be used to assess an applicants' claim. Information will be cross-matched with other data held by the Council and third party agencies e.g. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for verification purposes.

The Council may also share data with both internal and external organisations for the purposes of validating any applications you may make or have made for other Council services such as Housing Applications, School Placements, and Homeless Applications.

In addition, we may also share your data within the organisation to support our efforts to redirect you to other support that may be available (for example our Discretionary Housing Payment Scheme, Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

We may also share your data within the organisation or with other Government agencies in order to prevent and/or detect potentially fraudulent activity. Subject to a legal gateway, your information may also be shared for the prevention of fraud and criminal activity with (list not exhaustive):

  • The police
  • Immigration Service, Absconder Services and/or UK Border Agency
  • Health and social care organisations
  • Other Local Authorities