The Government has extended its support for struggling households over the winter, following an LGA campaign.
The LGA had warned that ending the Household Support Fund at the end of September, as originally planned, would result in a ‘cliff-edge’ of support for people struggling to buy food, pay bills and cover other essentials.
An LGA survey found that nearly 60 per cent of councils would not have been able to provide any additional funding for local welfare assistance if the fund had ended this month, and only 1 per cent said they would be able to match the lost funding.
However, the fund will now run until April 2025, with an additional £421 million for local authorities in England, and £79 million for the devolved authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Cllr Pete Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Economy and Resources Board, said: “It is very positive the Government has acted in response to our campaign to extend this vital fund, which will help millions of vulnerable households at a time when demand for support is expected to increase over winter.
“Local government stands ready to work with the Government on a long-term plan for local welfare support that shifts away from short-term, crisis support, so councils can instead invest in preventative services that address the underlying causes of poverty and that, crucially, are underpinned by a sufficiently resourced national safety net.”