The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged the government to make the Household Support Fund permanent to help councils provide cost-of-living support to vulnerable people.
This follows the release of the Resolution Foundation’s annual Living Standards Outlook 2023 report, which found that a typical family in the UK is set to be £2,100 worse off over two years due to the rising cost of living.
Peter Marland, chair of the LGA’s resources board, said: “Councils are urging the government to make the Household Support Fund it has provided to councils permanent, alongside greater flexibility so they can ensure it helps people in the greatest need.
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“This would also allow councils to crucially shift their focus from short-term crisis support to investing in preventative services which build financial capability and resilience, such as welfare benefit entitlement checks; debt advice; and employment, health, and housing support.”
The £500m Household Support Fund was launched by the government in September 2021 to help vulnerable households with essentials as the country continued its recovery from Covid-19. In May 2022, the government increased the fund by £500m and extended its availability to March 2023.
“Councils continue to try and fund their own local crisis support schemes, but this is increasingly difficult amid ongoing funding pressures. Permanent local welfare funding would help councils ensure no one is left behind,” Marland continued.
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