News
Government extends ‘lifeline’ household support fund over winter
The extension will now run up until April 2025.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd September 2024 
Vulnerable households in England are set to receive support for the cost of essentials this winter, the Government has announced.
As summer draws to a close and the autumn and winter months edge closer towards the end of the year, the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has this week announced an extension to the Government’s already-successful Household Support Fund for the next six months up until April 2025.
The Government says the £421 million extension “gives certainty” to local Councils and authorities across England over the winter months.
As the cost of living crisis sadly continues to make its impact felt nationwide, the Government is urging pensioners and anyone struggling with the cost of energy, food, and water over the colder months to contact their local Council to see what support may be available to them.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced an extension to the #HouseholdSupportFund for the next six months
— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) September 2, 2024
If you are in need of help, reach out to your local council to see what support they might be able to offer https://t.co/C0FeXKwNIY pic.twitter.com/epS2U5YPaz
As well as covering the cost of winter essentials, many Councils also use the Household Support Fund beyond emergency support too – including working with local charities and community groups to provide residents with key appliances, school uniforms, cookery classes, and items to improve energy efficiency in the home.
The extension of the Household Support Scheme for a further six months comes after the Government has unfortunately revealed that around 1.3 million more people have fallen into poverty since 2010/11 – with living standards falling by the largest year-on-year drop since records began in 2022/23.
With the new Government continuing with its work to “deliver growth in the long term”, the extension of the Fund will help Councils to prevent vulnerable households from experiencing “an immediate cliff edge” of support with a tough winter ahead.
“We are extending the Household Support Fund for the next six months, because it is a lifeline for people who are struggling with the cost of living,” explained the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall.
“The dire inheritance we face means more people are living in poverty now than 14 years ago.
“This Government is taking immediate action to prevent a cliff edge of support for the most vulnerable in our society, and at the same time, we are taking action to fix the foundations of our country through our plans to grow the economy, make work pay, and Get Britain Working again.”
Council Leader @bevcraig has welcomed the extension of a multi-million pound which gives a vital lifeline to thousands Manchester people struggling with the cost of living.
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) September 2, 2024
Read more at https://t.co/ksB2O4XhjH pic.twitter.com/WlqWmijkFY
Manchester’s City Council leader, Bev Craig, has welcomed the Fund’s extension.
“While we continue long-term work to address the causes of poverty, there is no doubt that extra short-term help is still urgently needed for those feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis on top of 14 years of austerity,” Cllr Craig commented.
Read more:
- 16 million people could be ‘forced’ to turn their heating off when energy bills increase this autumn
- Almost half of all British households were ‘too scared to put the heating on’ last winter
- Manchester libraries become ‘warm spaces’ with FREE hot drinks and Wi-Fi
“Today’s announcement will ensure we can give that extra support to those who need it most and we will work with the new government to tackle the long-term root causes.”
Featured Image – Aldi UK
