The new Labour government and the DWP are set to introduce a new Cost of Living support this October. Despite concerns that the Household Support Fund would end on September 30, it has now been prolonged.
Labour’s New Household Support Funding to Address Cost of Living Pressures
As reports BirminghamLive, Labour will supply an additional £421 million starting this October until the end of March. Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall MP, emphasized that this funding will be used to help those in need. She encouraged pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living over the colder months to contact their local council to explore available support options.
Regarding the extension to the Household Support Fund, Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, stated: “Thankfully this fund will now be available through the winter months to support people of all ages in financial hardship with bills and other essential costs.”
Vine acknowledged the extension as a positive development but pointed out that “it won’t undo all of the potential damage that could be caused by means testing the Winter Fuel Payment, with millions of older people on a low income set to miss out on this vital support.” Vine also highlighted that people experiencing poverty in later life need “more money in their pocket now, as well as long-term strategic plans - such as the introduction of a national energy social tariff - to improve their future.”
Independent Age Urges UK Government to Reconsider Winter Fuel Payment Changes
In the short term, Independent Age is calling on the UK Government to “delay plans to tie the Winter Fuel Payment to Pension Credit as far too many older people in financial hardship will fall through the cracks.” Vine noted that “currently there are up to 1.2 million eligible older people missing out on the Pension Credit they’re entitled to.”
Additionally, there is concern about “the large group of older people that are just above the Pension Credit eligibility threshold,” who face having their income cut at a challenging time of year with rising energy prices.
“We are ready to work with the UK Government to help identify solutions and reach older people living in poverty. Nobody in later life that needs financial support should be left behind,” Vine concluded.