Leader welcomes government funding to help vulnerable residents this winter

The Leader of Swindon Borough Council has welcomed an extra £1.5m of government funding to support local residents with the cost of living and fuel poverty.

Councillor Jim Robbins said the Department for Work and Pensions’ decision to extend the Household Support Fund for the next six months until March next year would give vulnerable households support for essentials this winter, such as food, heating and housing.

The Council will target the money at people who are most in need and will support them through the cost of living crisis. Councillors will formally agree how the funding will be awarded, but it will be recommended that funds are given to those low-income pensioners most impacted by heating costs over winter following the increase in the energy price cap.

Once agreed, some of the funding will be allocated directly to eligible households, while some will be distributed to local partners to help residents with food and energy bill support.

In addition to this, residents are encouraged to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit. A successful application for pension credit will automatically trigger eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment, an annual tax-free government grant of £200 for residents under the age of 80 or £300 if they are over 80. Those who need help with this application process can speak to Citizens Advice Swindon.

Between April and August this year, the Council has allocated £1.35m from the Household Support Fund, which includes distributing 28,200 food vouchers to families with children during school holidays, supporting 9,600 children, at a cost of around £1.1m.

Councillor Robbins said: “I’m really grateful to the Government for extending the Household Support Grant which will allow us to target support to those Swindon households who really need help this winter.

“We will be looking to allocate £400,000 to people who are just above the Pension Credit cut-off to support them through the winter. We’ve been working closely with our MPs and the wider community to make sure we identify the right people to support.”

The application process for those eligible for funding is likely to be open in November. Details will be available on the Council’s website by searching ‘Household Support Fund’.