Swansea East MS Welcomes Fuel Support Scheme Extension To Help More Low-Income Households

Swansea East MS welcomes fuel support scheme extension to help more low-income households

Mike Hedges, Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, has welcomed the announcement that almost 200,000 more low-income households across Wales will be eligible for a £200 payment to help keep their homes warm this autumn and winter.

The Welsh Labour Government is investing a further £90m in its Fuel Support Scheme in recognition of the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on those struggling to pay their energy bills.

The extension of the fuel support scheme will mean 400,000 households will benefit in total. Thanks to the extension of the scheme, households on child tax credits, pension credits, disability benefits, carers allowance, contributory benefits and those receiving a council tax reduction will now be eligible for help.

The eligibility for the scheme is being extended as the current cost-of-living crisis is having a greater impact on low-income households.

Welcoming the additional support, Mike Hedges said:

“Households in Swansea East  are facing a cost-of-living crisis thank to the economic choices, inaction and mismanagement of the UK Conservative Government. Soaring energy bills are having a devastating impact.

“While the Conservatives continue to fail people, the Welsh Labour Government is once again doing everything they can within their powers and budgets to support people.

“I’m pleased that the Welsh Labour Government is providing additional funding to support those struggling the most with the cost-of-living crisis.”

The extended Fuel Support Scheme includes the £4m announced last month for the fuel voucher scheme. The scheme was established to support those on prepayment meters and households not connected to mains gas with increased costs.

The extra funding and targeted support comes as households across Wales are struggling to pay higher energy bills, made worse by the increase in the domestic energy cap rise in April. There is expected to be a further rise in the cost of energy and standing charges in the Autumn.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Households on universal credit, legacy means-tested benefits and working tax credits benefitted from the £200 2021/22 Winter Fuel Payment.

The Minister announced earlier this year that the 2021/22 Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment would be doubled to £200 as the cost-of-living crisis intensified to support eligible households with rising energy bills and costs.

You can find more information on the Winter Fuel Support Scheme here: Winter fuel support scheme | GOV.WALES

Information on the discretionary assistance fund is also available here: Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) | GOV.WALES