I do appreciate the pressures that many are feeling on their finances as a result of the rising cost of living and have been working with Citizens Advice and other local groups to share information about the package of support made available by the Government, and to ensure that the measures taken reflect local need. As part of this I have created a dedicated cost of living support hub on my website, which you can view here: https://www.laurafarris.org.uk/cost-living-support and have also written to the Minister to pass on the concerns raised by the Crisis campaign to increase Local Housing Allowance rates.
The level of housing support is reviewed annually through assessing the Local Housing Allowance rates and by monitoring housing welfare policy. For those who need additional support to meet their housing costs, the Household Support Fund provides funding to local authorities to establish schemes for vulnerable families in their areas. The Government recently announced that this will be continued to March 2024 which resulted in an additional £1.3 million for West Berkshire.
In addition, for 2023/24, households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. This will be split into three payments of around £300 each across the 2023/24 financial year. The first payment is due to be paid to eligible households from May. A separate £300 payment will be made to pensioner households on top of their Winter Fuel Payments and individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will receive a £150 payment.
At the Autumn Statement in November of last year (effective from April 2023) the Chancellor also announced that pensions and Universal Credit would also be uprated to match inflation, which will further help support many households locally.
(May 2023)
