Up to 50 thousand Norfolk families receive first cost of living support payment today
It's part of a government support package for households totalling ÂŁ650
Up to 50 thousand families across Norfolk will be receiving their first means-tested, cost of living support payment of ÂŁ326 from the Government today.
While close to the same number of people will be getting a disability top-up of ÂŁ150 - to help them deal with soaring prices of goods.
The Department of Work and Pensions estimate that 8 million households will be given the two instalments worth ÂŁ650 across the UK. But no date has been established for when the 2nd payment will go into people's bank accounts.
"People need to know when the support is coming and how much they are going to get"
Helen Gilbert is the manager of the King's Lynn foodbank.
She says the support is welcome but should only be a start, and that households desperately need clarity moving forwards: "I'm concerned that it's not going to be enough to meet the rising cost of living. On the first of October, energy prices are going to go up again and I worry that people are going to use the money they are getting now, because they need it now and because they are already accruing debts and this all means they are going to have nothing later on.
"In the next few weeks people are going to be spending money on school uniforms and new school shoes.
"They are going to be trying to prepare themselves for the autumn term and the winter to come. They are going to be thinking about whether they are going to be able to get a new winter coat for their children. People need to know when the support is coming and how much they are going to get."
"People haven't got time for that, people need a Government that's working to sort through this issue now"
Ms Gilbert went on to tell us that the turmoil at Westminster has come at the worst possible time and that the next government must act swiftly to tackle the core of the issue:
"We haven't got time to wait for ministers to get new a leader and for us to get a whole new cabinet- then allow time for them to bed themselves in. People haven't got time for that, people need Government that's working now to sort through this issue now, so that people don't struggle when it gets to October."
"I think the first and most important thing the new government needs to do, is to control energy costs. That's what is driving the cost of living crisis at the minute and is affecting every sector of society. Only a functioning government can actually make real change on that one and only properly, truly control energy costs."
It's part of Government measures aimed at helping the poorest families in the UK deal with soaring costs.