Cllr Alan White
Cllr Alan White

County council bosses say they will continue to work to support struggling families after the Chancellor outlined new measures to ease the cost of living crisis.

Rishi Sunak revealed plans today (26th May) which will see all households receive £400 off their energy bills and a one-off £650 payment for eight million low income families across the country.

Other measures include a one-off disability cost of living payment of £150 a, with pensioners also getting £300.

But with fuel bills expected to rise even further when the energy price cap is reviewed again in the autumn, Staffordshire County Council leader Alan White said the authority would still continue to offer additional support where possible to local residents.

“I am pleased that the Chancellor has taken further steps to ease the pressures on families, but we recognise that many will still be facing higher bills than ever before.

“In Staffordshire we are committed to doing everything we can to help those struggling the most, including free holiday activities for those receiving school meals, beat the cold payments for those on low incomes and one-off payments to care leavers to help with bills.

“These are difficult times for many and as a county council we will be working with partners to help those most in need of support.”

Cllr Alan White, Staffordshire County Council

Full details of the Chancellor’s measures can be found online.

Many of the payments will be funded by a temporary windfall tax on energy companies.

Cllr Dave Robertson, Labour representative for Curborough ward at Lichfield District Council, said:

“It looks like the Chancellor has finally woken up to the financial difficulties that people are facing and has done what Labour have been asking him to do for months – why did it have to take this long?”

Cllr Dave Robertson, Lichfield District Council