The Government has confirmed a 11.87% decrease in this year’s Household Support Fund allocation.
The Fund, operating since 2021 and now in its seventh round, was introduced to help individuals and families that are struggling financially with the rising cost of living, such as the costs of energy, food, and other essential household items.
Over that period, we’ve channelled our allocation of Household Support Funding into providing a range of support, including the provision of Free School Meal holiday vouchers to families with children and young people who are eligible for free school meals during term time.
Citizen’s Advice Devon has used some of our allocation to support households that use pre-payment meters – often paying higher unit costs – and digital meters to help them afford and budget for their energy usage.
And Devon’s District Councils have used their allocation of the Household Support Fund to support older residents and individuals known to be on low incomes and/or claiming certain benefits, and who are struggling with the high costs of living.
The Department of Work and Pensions’ decrease means that where last year, we received £10.1 million, this year Devon will receive £8.9 million.
The impact is likely to hit some of the county’s most vulnerable residents, at a time of continued high prices for food, fuel, and other essential household items.
We are able to confirm though that we will maintain the Free School Meal holiday vouchers, at the same £15 per week per eligible child level, for this Easter and May half-term holidays.
Beyond that though, with Devon County Council heading towards local elections on 1 May, it will be a decision for the council’s new administration about how it will allocate the reduced purse to its partner organisations that support people struggling with the cost of living.
A spokesperson for the County Council said:
“To give families some time to help them budget for this reduction, we’re agreeing now that we’ll continue to provide the Free School Meal holiday vouchers at the same level per child, as currently, for the Easter and May half term holidays.
“After that, it will be a decision for Devon County Council’s new administration to decide how it allocates the reduced Household Support Funding, working with our District Council colleagues, Citizen’s Advice Devon and other local community groups.”
The council will make a further announcement once its new administration is in place after the May elections.