An extra £1.5 million of government funding to support Swindon residents with the cost of living and fuel poverty has been welcomed by the leader of the borough council.

Councillor Jim Robbins said the Department for Work and Pensions' decision to extend the Household Support Fund for the next six months until March next year would give vulnerable households support for essentials this winter, such as food, heating, and housing.

He said: "I’m really grateful to the government for extending the Household Support Grant which will allow us to target support to those Swindon households who really need help this winter.

"We will be looking to allocate £400,000 to people who are just above the Pension Credit cut-off to support them through the winter.

"We’ve been working closely with our MPs and the wider community to make sure we identify the right people to support."

The council said it will use the money to support people who are most in need in a bid to help them through the cost of living crisis.

Councillors are set to formally agree on how the funding will be awarded, but it will be recommended that funds are given to low-income pensioners most impacted by heating costs over winter following the increase in the energy price cap.

Once agreed, some of the funding will be allocated directly to eligible households, while some will be distributed to local partners to help residents with food and energy bills

Swindon Borough Council has also encouraged residents to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit.

A successful application for Pension Credit will automatically trigger eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment.

This is an annual, tax-free government grant of £200 for residents under the age of 80, or £300 if they are over 80.

The government announced earlier this year many pensioners will miss out the Winter Fuel Payment as it will now be means-tested.

Those who need help with the application process can speak to Citizens Advice Swindon.

Between April and August this year, the council has allocated £1.35 million from the Household Support Fund, which includes distributing 28,200 food vouchers to families with children during school holidays, supporting 9,600 children, at a cost of around £1.1 million.

The application process for those eligible for funding is likely to be open in November.

Details will be available on the council’s website by searching 'Household Support Fund'.