DWP extends 'vital' cost of living fund with £421 million boost for struggling families

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that the household support fund, which provides struggling families with help during the cost of living crisis, will be extended by another six months.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced the news on Monday, saying that the additional £400 million boost to the fund would be a "lifeline" for families struggling to pay their bills.

The fund is split between local authorities in England, with each authority deciding how to distribute the money to those that need it. Councils may use the money to provide emergency cost of living payments or food vouchers, as well as services like boiler repairs or insulation installation to keep homes warm.

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The household support fund will be extended by £421m in England, up until April 2025. An estimated £79 million will also be given to the devolved administrations via the Barnett formula to provide support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ms Kendall said: "We are extending the Household Support Fund for the next six months because it is a lifeline for people who are struggling with the cost of living. 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."

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, added: "The £22 billion blackhole inherited from the previous governments means we have to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of our economy. But extending the Household Support Fund is the right thing to do - provide targeted support for those who