It has been announced that the South West is set to receive an extra £37.5 million from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is set to extend the Household Support Fund which gives people money for essential costs like food and energy bills.

The DWP extension means that the region has received a total of £225.4 million of Household Support Fund investment since October 2021. The fund, which totals £2.5 billion, is part of the £108 billion cost of living support package that has been rolled out across the nation.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, who is MP for Central Devon, said: “We’ve protected vulnerable people from cost of living pressures with the biggest support package in Europe, preventing 1.3 million people falling into poverty.

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“Extending the Household Support Fund means people in the South West can access help with essentials, as we grow the economy by making work pay - cutting taxes by £900 for the average worker, raising the National Living Wage after seven successive months of real wage growth, and driving down inflation.”

The government is hoping to help over a million long-term unemployed, sick and disabled people back into work. The £2.5 billion Back to Work plan will help break down barriers to work, while the Chance to Work Guarantee will give people the opportunity to try work without risk of losing any benefit entitlement.

The Fund is being extended for a fifth time with £421 million for local authorities across England. £79 million is being allocated to the devolved administrations as a result of the Barnett Formula.

The move comes alongside the following Government measures:

  • National Living Wage increase to £11.44 an hour for people aged 21 and over.
  • Increase in Local Housing Allowance – worth £800 a year for 1.6 million eligible households.
  • 15 hours free childcare for every eligible working parent in the UK
  • New, lower Energy Price Cap as energy bills fall again.

As well as the Household Support Fund, there’s a range of other support available. Through the Help for Households campaign, people have access to information and support on a range of issues – from help with childcare costs to mental health advice and more.

To find out what support you may be eligible for go to Help for Households - Get government cost of living support.