The UK government has now decided to extend the Household Support Fund, which was set to end after September 2024. This fund provides millions in support to help struggling families and individuals get by.
Government extends Cost of Living Support for families
Many parents and families in the UK have been feeling anxious about what will happen when the government stops offering cost of living support payments. With the prices of everyday essentials rising over the past few years, it’s been a tough time for most families.
The UK government has now decided to extend the Household Support Fund, which was set to end after September 2024. This fund provides millions in support to help struggling families and individuals get by. This extension to the fund will provide an extra £421million to support parents, families, and individuals across the UK.
This support scheme will now run for an extra 6 months to support as many struggling parents and families as possible. If you haven’t checked your eligibility yet, you definitely should. You could be missing out on £100’s in extra financial support for your family this winter.
60 Second Summary – Government extends Cost of Living Support for families
The UK government has extended the Household Support Fund, adding an extra £421million to help struggling families and individuals cope with rising costs. The scheme will run for an extra 6 months, to support families who struggle with the higher cost of energy bills during the winter months.
- Whether you qualify for support from the Household Support Fund will depend on the rules set by your local council. You should contact them directly to check if you could receive a support payment.
- The extension of the Household Support Funds comes after thousands of pensioners were told they won’t get a Winter Fuel Allowance payment this year.
- Other forms of support that your family could claim this winter include a Council Tax Reduction or Discretionary Housing Payments for renters.
- You can call the free Citizen’s Advice helpline to speak with a trained adviser about any problems you’re having with your energy bills this winter.
Why has the government extended the Household Support Fund?
The Labour government has faced a lot of backlash recently for scrapping the Winter Fuel Allowance for thousands of pensioners. The Winter Fuel Allowance is now ‘means tested’, which means that many pensioners who received it last year won’t receive it this year.
The government has been heavily criticised for this decision, and this may have led them to extend the Household Support Fund to avoid further criticisms from the public and the Conservatives.
The Salvation Army has come out in support of the extension to the fund, but has said that this support ‘only puts a plaster on poverty’. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition stated that this is the ‘bare minimum’ that the government could have done to support families this winter.
How does the Household Support Fund help UK families?
The Household Support Fund has been designed to help families who are struggling due to higher costs for things like food, fuel, and water. You don’t need to be receiving benefits to receive help from the Household Support Fund.
The rules for who is eligible are decided by individual councils and local authorities. If you need extra help with your bills or with food, you should contact your local council to see if they can help.
You can use this helpful tool on the Gov.uk website to find the contact details for your local council: Gov.uk – Find your local council
What other Cost of Living Support is available?
While the Household Support Fund is one of the main schemes, there are other forms of cost of living support that you might be entitled to. Our MPO experts have listed each of these schemes and the relevant links below.
Benefits and Financial Support
You might be surprised to find that you are entitled to claim benefits, even if you are a working parent. It all depends on how much you earn, and you can use the government’s benefits calculator to find out if you are entitled to anything.
Council Tax Support
You might be able to reduce your council tax bill if you are on a low income or claim certain benefits. You can even reduce a bill by up to 100%, so it’s definitely worth checking!
You can apply whether you rent or own your home, but the discount would depend on where you live, your household income, and how many people live with you.
Gov.uk – Apply for Council Tax Reduction
Discretionary Housing Payment
You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment if you receive Housing Benefit or get support with housing costs through Universal Credit. You can use a Discretionary Housing Payment to help you with rent if you are struggling to pay or if you need a deposit to rent a new home.
You will need to speak to your local council to apply if you think you are eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
What should I do if I’m struggling this winter?
Winter is a time that a lot of parents dread, as the cost of heating your home is so much higher. If you are finding it tough to pay your energy bills, various brilliant organisations can provide extra support and advice:
Citizen’s Advice
Citizen’s Advice has a dedicated helpline that you can call to ask a trainer adviser about any issues with your energy bills or energy supply. They can offer free advice and guidance, either online or over the phone.
Telephone – 0808 223 1133
Website – Citizen’s Advice – Contact the consumer service for energy problems
Opening hours – 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday
Ofgem energy payment schemes
Ofgem offers various schemes that can help parents who are struggling with energy bills. This ranges from the Warm Home Discount to the Great British Insulation Scheme.
You can view a full list of these schemes and other helpful tips HERE on the Ofgem website.
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