£41 million Winter Support Fund for low income households
Funding to help people struggling financially during the winter is part of a new £41 million support package. The Winter Support Fund will help those on low incomes, children and people at risk of homelessness against a backdrop of rising living and fuel costs.
The funding comes from consequentials of the UK Government’s £500 million Household Support Fund.
Key elements of the package include:
£10 million to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills
£25 million flexible funding to help local authorities support wellbeing and respond to financial insecurity based on local needs
£6 million for third sector partners to support low income families
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We know that many families are struggling financially due to the increased costs they are facing right now. This package of measure aims to ease some of that strain by providing direct support to people.
“The Scottish Government has invested £2.5 billion to support low income households in 2020-21, with around £1 billion focused on supporting children as a cornerstone of our national mission to tackle child poverty and homelessness.
“That includes doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per child per week, with our plans to do so set out in the forthcoming Scottish Budget.
“We are passing on every penny of the £41 million we received in UK Government consequentials.
“However, this in no way makes up for the recent £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit, which has taken an estimated £460 million from the pockets of the people in Scotland who need it most.”
Support for those struggling with fuel bills will include access to fuel top-up vouchers, advice to manage fuel debt and support for those in remote and rural areas.
The Winter Support Fund will continue to promote cash-first responses in line with our draft national plan on ending the need for food banks as a primary response. In some cases help may also be offered to tackle social isolation and support mental health.
In addition to helping people heat their homes and meet rising food costs, funding will help to ensure no-one is faced with rough sleeping this winter.
The funding comes from consequentials of the UK Government’s £500 million Household Support Fund.
GB energy consumers face the biggest ever increase to the energy price cap
Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) warns that the average increase of £153 for prepayment customers and £139 from those paying by direct debit using a default tariff is likely to result in more utility debt, 500,000 extra households in fuel poverty and an increase in preventable deaths this winter
Suppliers are putting their prices up in October when millions of people will see a reduction in their incomes, as uplifts to Universal Credit are withdrawn
Charity says new Household Support Fund welcome but not enough to prevent needless deaths this winter
Calls on UK Government to take more action to directly reduce higher prices for the poorest this winter and for Ofgem to do more to protect the most vulnerable consumers when suppliers fail.
Adam Scorer, Chief Executiveat fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA), said: “The massive devastating increases in energy prices will drive over 500,000 more households into fuel poverty, leaving them unable to heat or power their homes.
“Just when they were needed most, the uplifts to Universal Credit are also being withdrawn and inflation is soaring. The new Household Support Fund will provide some welcome support for those who can access it, but on its own it is not enough to halt the erosion in incomes and deal with rising prices.
“Without a wider package of support – keeping UC uplifts and more rebates to protect those on the lowest incomes from spiralling energy prices – vulnerable people are still at dire risk of premature death this winter”.
“Falling through the gaps when suppliers fail”
NEA warns that the current crisis is likely to badly affect vulnerable customers when their suppliers fail. The charity is warning that households on older prepay meters are at risk of not being able to top up with their new supplier if their current supplier fails.
In addition, people in debt who transfer over to their new suppliers may also immediately risk aggressive debt recovery tactics from their previous suppliers’ administrators. People eligible for Warm Home Discount are also falling through the gaps when they move to their new supplier. They often can’t access all elements of this vital support.
Adam Scorer continued: “We know this situation is preventable, but Ofgem must act fast to protect the most vulnerable consumers when suppliers fail. The UK Government must also use the upcoming Budget to provide more additional emergency support so we can guard against the consequences of soaring bills and hits to millions of low incomes.
“This means enhancing current schemes and taking new steps to accelerate the repayment of utility debts across the UK”.
“Many of those on the lowest incomes live in the least efficient homes”
NEA has also stressed that one of the key reasons the situation is bleak for the poorest households is the vicious overlap between the households who live on the lowest incomes and who also live in the least energy efficient homes.
They say in England alone, more than 680,000 households on the lowest incomes also live in the least efficient homes making the impact of the price rises much more severe. Over 3 million fuel poor households will need to be prioritised for retrofits if the goal to meet Net Zero is to be met at the same time as statutory fuel poverty targets.
Adam Scorer again: “These quick emergency fixes are vital to get struggling households through this winter, but we can’t lose sight of the long-term solution to reduce the energy waste in our homes.
“We have some of the least efficient housing in Europe. This has left the UK more exposed to the current soaring gas price than many other countries and we are wasting billions of pounds each year as heat escapes through leaky roofs, floors and ceilings”.
What needs to be done
As a summary, NEA is proposing emergency provision to help fuel poor households to stay warm at home this winter, including:
Providing additional funding towards the Warm Home Discount scheme this winter as an emergency provision to guard against significantly increased gas prices
Supporting more households with the Winter Fuel Payment, especially for those eligible for the Cold Weather Payment in Northern Ireland
Helping accelerate the repayment of utility debts across the UK by enhancing Fuel and Water Direct
Continuing the Winter Grant Scheme through this winter
Additionally, through the Spending Review, NEA propose the following longer-term actions to ensure that fuel poor households can be warm at home for years to come:
Fully implement the Conservative Manifesto for the Home Upgrade Grant Scheme (HUG) and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF)
Ensure the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) helps end cold homes across the UK
Extend and strengthen the £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit for low-income households.
