MS welcomes doubling of support fund to help families hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis

Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Wrexham, Lesley Griffiths, has welcomed the doubling of the Welsh Government’s Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment to £200 as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies.

The one-off payment – which was launched in December – is now being extended to support eligible households with rising energy bills and costs, providing further support for people facing rising living costs this winter.

It is part of the Welsh Labour Government’s bespoke Household Support Fund, which is providing £51m of targeted support for families and the most vulnerable in society.

Welcoming the doubling of the support payment, Lesley Griffiths MS said: “We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Families in Wrexham are struggling to make ends meet, with monthly bills rising and wages being stretched like never before.

“Doubling the support available via the Winter Fuel Support Scheme will help alleviate some of the financial pressures on household budgets, but the overall responsibility lies with the UK Government. I urge it to take meaningful action to address the cost-of-living crisis people across Wrexham are facing.”

Local authorities will process new applications from eligible households. To be eligible for the payment, one member of the household must be in receipt of certain welfare benefits. Further details are available on local authority websites, which will be updated to reflect the increased payment.

Councils have contacted people they believe are eligible. If they have not yet made an application, these can be submitted until 28 February.

People who have already received a £100 payment under the scheme do not need to anything – they will receive a further £100 payment in the coming weeks.