Millions to get free cash and vouchers this winter as Household Support Fund extended

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed today that the Household Support Fund would be extended once again for six more months until April 2025.

Despite the giant £22billion black hole in public finances, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said extending the Household Support Fund is "the right thing to do, to provide targeted support for those who need it most as we head into the winter months.”

The fund will be allocated to local authorities across England, which will use it to support residents in need.

This includes providing assistance through local charities and community groups for essentials such as appliances and school uniforms.

Liz Kendall MP, secretary of state for Work and Pensions said: "The dire inheritance we face means more people are living in poverty now than 14 years ago – and this Government is taking immediate action to prevent a cliff edge of support for the most vulnerable in our society.

"At the same time, we are taking action to fix the foundations of our country through our plans to grow the economy, make work pay, and Get Britain Working again."

Originally, the fund was supposed to come to an end on September 30, but it has now been extended.

A further £421million will be given to councils to give to residents in need between October and April 2025.

A further £79m will be offered to councils across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The DWP is urging pensioners to contact their local councils from October to see what help might be available to them via the HSF after Winter Fuel Payments were scrapped for millions.

The £300 payment is now only available to those on means tested payments such as Pension Credit.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: "The extension of the Household Support Fund is the bare minimum the Government needed to do this winter and it is a positive first step that ministers have indicated it will continue.

"But as the Winter Fuel Payment axe plunges more pensioners into fuel poverty, the Fund may prove to be inadequate as more vulnerable older people turn to local authorities for help and assistance.

"While households wait for the long term measures to bring down energy bills to come into effect in years to come, the country needs help to stay warm this winter.

"Ministers must now look to introduce a help to repay scheme for those in energy debt, expand the Warm Home Discount and restore Winter Fuel Payments to more pensioners."

Councils across England will decide who to distribute their share of the fund to which means where someone lives will have an impact on what they receive

However, in most cases, people will be eligible if they are on benefits, classed as vulnerable or have limited savings.

Britons may not be able to get help for the new round if they have previously received support from this scheme.

Those who are eligible may be contacted by their local council telling them what the next steps are to receiving any help.