MP Steve Brine has welcomed a new £500 million “Household Support Fund” for vulnerable households announced by Rishi Sunak at the Conservative Conference in Manchester.
The new fund will mean that households who need extra support over the coming months with the cost of essentials will be helped with the cost of living.
Local councils will run the scheme throughout the winter and be able to distribute funding locally through grants to meet needs such as food, clothing, and utilities.
Steve Brine says; “The new support fund, at least half of which will help families with children, adds to existing measures the Government have introduced for low-income households.
“‘Over the last year, we have helped millions of people provide for their families. Many are now back on their feet but we know that some may still need further support. Our targeted Household Support Fund is here to help those vulnerable households with essential costs as we push through the last stages of our recovery from the pandemic.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, added; “Everyone should be able to afford the essentials, and we are committed to ensuring that is the case. The new fund will provide a lifeline for those at risk of struggling to keep up with their bills over the winter, adding to the support the government is already providing to help people with the cost of living.”
These measures the Government has introduced have increased the national living wage, provided a rise in the Local Housing Allowance, expanded the £221 million Holiday Activity and Food which will be offering meals and activities to disadvantaged children this Christmas, doubling free childcare for eligible working parents and increasing the value of Healthy Start vouchers by over a third.
The Fund will also work alongside the Warm Home Discount that provides a £140 rebate on energy bills each winter to over 2.2 million low-income households and the Cold Weather Payment. The Cold Weather Payment provides £25 extra a week when the temperature is below zero for low-income households.
Mr Brine urged any constituents who think they may be eligible for the Household Support Fund in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford to contact Winchester City Council or Eastleigh Borough Council respectively.
The Winchester MP recently met with Mr Sunak in Downing Street where they also discussed the NHS workforce and the need to achieve a step-change in retro-fitting of homes to help meet Government’s net-zero objectives.
Pictured; Steve Brine with Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, at a No.11 meeting recently.
More information ...
