DEVON County Council has expressed its disappointment as the Government has confirmed a 11.87 per cent decrease in this year's Household Support Fund allocation.

The Fund, operating since 2021 and now in its seventh round, was introduced to help individuals and families that are struggling financially with the rising cost of living, such as the costs of energy, food, and other essential household items.

Over that period, Devon County Council has channelled its allocation of Household Support Funding into providing a range of support, including the provision of Free School Meal holiday vouchers to families with children and young people who are eligible for free school meals during term time.

Citizen's Advice Devon has used some of the county's allocation to support households that use pre-payment meters - often paying higher unit costs - and digital meters to help them afford and budget for their energy usage.

And Devon's District Councils have used their allocation of the Household Support Fund to support older residents and individuals known to be on low incomes and/or claiming certain benefits, and who are struggling with the high costs of living.

The Department of Work and Pensions' decrease means that where Devon, last year, received £10.1 million, this year it will receive £8.9 million.

The council says that the impact is likely to hit some of the county's most vulnerable residents, at a time of continued high prices for food, fuel, and other essential household items.

Devon County Council recently confirmed it will maintain the Free School Meal holiday vouchers, at the same £15 per week per eligible child level, for this Easter and May half-term holidays.

Beyond that though, with the council heading towards local elections on May 1, it will be a decision for the council's new administration about how it will allocate the reduced purse to its partner organisations that support people struggling with the cost of living.

Councillor Roger Croad, the Council's Cabinet Member responsible for communities, said: "It's a sorry state that so many individuals and families in Devon, and nationwide, should be struggling so much with the continued high costs of living. However, it’s a truth.

“It’s therefore especially disappointing that as some other benefits - winter fuel payments for example - have been removed for some residents, and when there are so many individuals and families having to decide whether to spend what they have on food or energy, that the Household Support Fund is now also being reduced.

"We can't change that, but we can help buy some time for families to help them budget by agreeing now that we'll continue to provide the Free School Meal holiday vouchers at the same level per child for the Easter and May half term holidays.

“After that though, it will be a decision for the new administration at Devon County Council to decide how it allocates the reduced pot of funding, working with our District Council colleagues, Citizen's Advice Devon and other local community groups."

The council will make a further announcement once its new administration is in place after the May elections.