Working families and pensioners on fixed incomes across North Lincolnshire are set to benefit from the latest announcements in the Spring Budget.
An extra £1.3m will be shared among thousands of local residents as an extension to the Household Support Fund was confirmed in the budget, announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt MP.
Thousands of residents have previously shared almost £5m to help ease the pressure of global inflation through the scheme across the last couple of years, with the money used to help thousands of pensioners and families on fixed incomes, alongside people with disabilities.
Cllr Rob Waltham said: “This Government cash will help those on the lowest incomes and particularly pensioners on fixed incomes.
“As inflation continues to settle, there is still the need for that little bit of extra help and it is great the Government has recognised this and agreed to keep this funding in place for a short while longer.”
Under the scheme locally, pensioners have shared several million pounds in the form of £100 direct payments.
Cllr Waltham added: “We must remember this money goes to help the people who need it most but still gets spent in the local economy – the benefits are multiple.”
Other measures announced in the budget include a £5m fund for village halls and the extension of the Long Term Plan for Towns – with an additional 20 areas across the UK getting the same 10-year, £20m endowment fund which North Lincolnshire Council recently received – with Scunthorpe’s community centres to benefit from the first year of the funding.
A pay boost for thousands of North Lincolnshire local workers was announced with a further cut in National Insurance, with the rate set to be cut to eight per cent from April, after being reduced to ten per cent in January.
Tens of thousands of steelworkers, carers, council staff, nurses, doctors, teachers and people working in factories and other business across North Lincolnshire are all set to benefit from the cut.
Existing areas with devolution deals have been given further powers and funding. It comes ahead of the three Lincolnshire councils set to decide on whether to progress a deal locally next week.
Cllr Waltham said: “The reduction in National Insurance will mean thousands of hard working families across North Lincolnshire keep more of their money, that should be welcomed.
“I welcome to the additional power and funding for those areas which already have devolution deals in place – further proof of the importance of ensuring we can be in a position to get this for the hundreds of thousands of people in Lincolnshire.”
