To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the wages of low-paid workers through the Household Support Fund.
Answered on
6 December 2022
The Household Support Fund is a discretionary scheme delivered by Local Authorities in England and administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. The scheme is intended to support those in the most need with the cost of essentials. The Household Support Fund is not designed to increase the wages of low-paid workers but is rather intended to support households in the most need to help with global inflationary challenges and the significantly rising cost of living.
Over 8.8 million awards were made in England in the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
The Government announced an additional £1 billion in the Autumn Statement to help households with the cost of essentials, bringing the total funding for this support to £2.5 billion since October 2021. In England, a further £842 million is being provided to extend the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024. In turn, the Devolved Administrations will receive £158 million through the Barnett formula to spend at their discretion. Guidance, details and individual Local Authority indicative allocations for the Household Support Fund will be announced in due course