Hard-up families in Rutland have been told they will not be receiving vouchers for children's lunches this half term.

Shocked households only received the news from Rutland County Council – via schools – in the last 10 days.

The Government announced last year that it was ending its Household Support Fund (HSF) in March 2026.

The council has said support is still available to families – and that the decision was taken not to issue the HSF vouchers as they would still be valid beyond the March 31 deadline.

It is understood the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is launching a new scheme to replace the HSF, later this year.

Councils are expecting further government guidance on this new scheme in February.

Rutland Conservative leader Cllr Lucy Stephenson said: "Households receiving food vouchers for school holidays have just been notified they received the last ones at Christmas.

"This was a central government fund which was scheduled to end in March 2026 and Rutland County Council was the distributor.

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"Concerns have been raised however that, with just two weeks to go until half term, families had budgeted on the basis of receiving these vouchers, the email a shock therefore, with an assumption that as March was the end date, the February half term would be covered."

A council spokesman said: "Rutland County Council wrote to families on January 23 with an update about the Government's Household Support Fund (HSF).

"This letter was sent via schools and explained that HSF vouchers would not be issued for the February half term.

"HSF vouchers are valid for three months, meaning any vouchers issued now would still be in circulation after March 2026, when the Government has said it will close the HSF.

"Rutland County Council is still offering support to low-income families and those experiencing financial hardship, during the February half term.

"This comes in the form of a direct payment to eligible families, instead of a voucher."

Applications can be made through the council's website at rutland.gov.uk/hsf