Written question WQ86101

We are doing everything we can to support people through the cost-of-living crisis by providing targeted help to those who need it most and support through programmes and schemes, which put money back in people’s pockets.

Examples of our cost-of-living support includes investing more than £380m since November 2022, to help disadvantaged households deal with the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.

This has funded a range of measures, including £152m for the £150 cost-of-living payment for all households in council tax bands A to D, as well as for all households receiving assistance from our Council Tax Reduction Scheme in all council tax bands.

A further £25m has been made available to local authorities through a discretionary fund. This additional funding is intended to assist households that are struggling to meet their living costs.

The funding will also support the £200 Winter Fuel Support Payment, which launched on 26 September. We have expanded the eligibility criteria so 400,000 households will receive the payment.

Between 1 April 2022 and 31 August 2022, 239 awards have been made for off-grid fuel, totalling more than £45,000 in grants from the DAF.

We have also announced nearly £4m for the Fuel Bank Foundation to deliver a national fuel voucher and Heat Fund scheme for people on prepayment meters at risk of disconnection and those who are not connected to the mains gas network and are struggling to pay for fuel.