Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney, Dawn Bowden MS, 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.

This announcement comes as the Conservative UK Government continues to refuse to reverse its £20 cut to Universal Credit which has impacted tens of thousands of families in Wales and amid the triple whammy facing people – grocery bills rising, energy costs increasing, and Tory tax rises coming down the tracks which are going to make this crisis even worse.

Welcoming the doubling of the support payment, Dawn Bowden MS said: 

“The Conservatives continue to fail families in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney. Whilst we are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, fueled by rising energy and food prices, the UK Conservative Government remains distracted by the growing scandals in 10 Downing Street

“Faced with the inaction of the Conservative Government, the Welsh Labour Government is stepping to support families through what is turning out to be a difficult winter. 

“I welcome the doubling of the support from the Welsh Government to help with heating and eating pressures and again call on the Conservatives to reverse their cut to Universal Credit to address the cost-of-living crisis which is hitting people across Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney 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.