Medway councillors call to extend household support fund

Councillors in Medway have written to the government, calling for the Household Support Fund to be extended.

The scheme to help the most vulnerable during the cost of living crisis is due to stop at the end of the financial year in March.

On Wednesday, councillors voted unanimously to write to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

The government said it had increased benefits, pensions and local housing allowance.

The letter to Mr Hunt said extending the scheme would "allow local authorities, who are most attuned to their constituents' needs, to make vital interventions which help support families and individuals at this time".

A government spokesman said: "We have invested over £2 billion into the Household Support Fund over the last two years - with almost £800 million already paid to families with children.

"Anyone struggling to cover the costs of essentials should speak to their council about how the fund could help them."

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