Children and families will get extra support this winter, with councils given new funding to ensure vulnerable households do not go hungry or without essential items.
Building on the significant support given to the most vulnerable during the pandemic, the winter plans includes:
· £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme to support children, families and the most vulnerable over winter. This will allow councils to directly help the hardest-hit families and individuals, as well as provide food for children who need it over the holidays.
· Holiday Activities and Food programme (£220 million) to be expanded, covering Easter, Summer and Christmas in 2021. This programme has provided healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children since 2018.
· Healthy Start payments set to rise from £3.10 to £4.25 a week from April 2021 – This scheme supports pregnant women or those with children under four who have a low income and are in receipt of benefits to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
· £16 million for food distribution charities. This involves discussions with FareShare on how this is best distributed.
The government has consistently supported the lowest-paid families throughout the pandemic, with an £9.3bn put into the welfare system.
Ministers have already taken unprecedented measures during the pandemic to protect the most vulnerable, and put in place a strong package of financial support to support families and children.
This includes:
- Protecting millions of jobs and livelihoods through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, which have been extended until March 2021
- Increasing Universal Credit and Tax Credits by up to £20 a week this year
- £63m for councils to provide emergency assistance to families, pensioners and the most vulnerable with food, essentials and meals
- Extending free school meals support to those eligible when schools closed during lockdown
- Increasing Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and housing benefit claimants, so it covers the lowest 30% of local rents – benefiting over 1 million households by on average £600 this year.
Justin Tomlinson MP commented, “As a Minister in the DWP, I have been working tirelessly to deliver additional support to the most vulnerable families through the welfare system. This package builds on that support, and by extending our successful Holiday Activities and Food programme, as well as funding a £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme, we are making sure families get the help they need.”
Robert Buckland MP commented, “I am glad that the government have announced this winter support package, which further builds on the support we have already provided to those most vulnerable families during the Coronavirus Pandemic.”
