Merseyside charity warn government grant to help with spiralling living costs won't scratch surface

With around a quarter of a million households across Merseyside now eligible for extra support with spiralling bills, a charity helping some of the region's most deprived families, warn a government grant won't even scratch the surface.

Around eight million of the UK's poorest households will see a payment of £326 towards the cost of living landing in their bank accounts from today with another due in the Autumn.

Ministers say the money forms part of a raft of measures to help those struggling with soaring energy bills, predicted to top £3000 per year this Winter.

But Peter Mitchell, from the Big Help Project in Knowsley, says it won't even come close to solving the issue :

"How are people going to cope with a third of their income goin gout on fuel bills this Winter?

"It's not just fuel bills they're having to deal with. It's food, petrol and they're trying to manage their lives. They're going to receive £326 whihc is very welcome, we all support that, but it's a drop in the ocean.

"We've got to try to help people to understand that this money has to be spread out. It's not just for tomorrow, it's not for spending next week, it's got to be spread out over the next six months but that's a massive challenge when people can't put petrol in their cars, can't heat their homes or can't feed their children".

The Government has admitted some families may face delays in receiving the payment.

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