Charities have welcomed the government’s decision to extend the Household Support Fund, but are concerned that a six-month extension does not provide a long-term solution for those struggling with the cost of energy, food and water.
The extension, backed by £421m of funding for local authorities, will be available to anyone who is vulnerable or unable to afford essentials and keep up with the rising cost of living. The government says that recipients do not necessarily need to be getting benefits to qualify for help from their local council, and LAs will work with charities to also provide things like school uniform, key appliances and cookery classes.
Speculation arose that the government was not going to renew the fund after the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced she would scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. Reeves’ plan to reduce economic support came after the new government inherited a £22 billion ‘black hole’ in public finances.
However, Reeves said the government has decided that extending the Household Support Fund is ‘the right thing to do’, and it will continue provide targeted support for those who need it the most.
Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Strategy and Influence at the learning disability charity Mencap, has welcomed the extension and says it will allow LAs in England to provide ‘vital crisis support to people struggling with unaffordable costs this winter’.
“However, as temperatures start to drop, too many people with a learning disability will still be forced to make difficult decisions about heating their homes or turning on lights. Beyond this six-month extension, the government will need to provide a long-term solution that ensures people with a learning disability aren’t left in poverty,” she added.
The Carers Trust are also concerned about the short-term nature of the extension. Ramzi Suleiman, the charity’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager, said: “We welcome the Government’s extension to the Household Support Fund, something Carers Trust and others have been calling for. Today’s news will be met with relief from thousands of unpaid carers who have relied on it as a lifeline during the cost-of-living crisis.
“Around two-thirds of all unpaid carers have either had to give up paid work or cut back on working hours because of their caring role. This has pushed many of them into poverty at the same time as they’ve seen their bills rocket. The fund has been a vital financial safety net for many of them.”
“However, the Government needs to go further. We urge the Government to rethink its plans to restrict the Winter Fuel Payments which may plunge many older carers into fuel poverty. The extension to the fund is good news but we can’t keep relying on short-term schemes that could be axed at any moment and don’t tackle the deeper issues.
“Instead, the Government needs to work with charities and local government on a long-term solution to funding local welfare schemes. It’s the only way to ensure those facing the deepest financial hardship are properly supported.”
