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<p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living
and is providing £26bn in cost-of-living support for 2023/24. This includes Cost of
Living Payments for the most vulnerable. In addition, the Home office Tackling Domestic
Abuse Plan invests over £230 million, including over £140 million to support victims.</p><p>
</p><p>For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional
£1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household
Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have
already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England
this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by
£842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities
use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations
to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.</p><p> </p><p>DWP recognises
the pressures and challenges that this group face, which is why we have made Discretionary
Housing Payments available to allow LAs to provide financial help with rental costs.
These are aimed at a number of groups likely to be affected by welfare reforms, including
individuals or families fleeing domestic violence and abuse. Discretionary Housing
Payments may also be given to victims that have remained in their home, which has
been adapted under a sanctuary scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentres remain a safe place
to share concerns and obtain advice and support for those impacted by domestic abuse.</p><p>
</p><p>- <strong>Shared Accommodation Rate</strong></p><p>From 1 October 2022, up
to 11,000 victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery on Universal Credit or Housing
Benefit will be able to claim extra help towards their rental costs, as they will
no longer be expected to share accommodation. These groups will be able to claim the
higher one-bedroom rate of Local Housing Allowance. This is worth approximately £140
on average per month but the amount will vary depending on the area in which they
live.</p><p> </p><p>- <strong>Benefit cap levels increase</strong></p><p>In April
2023, the government will also increase the benefit cap levels in line with inflation
by 10.1%. The benefit cap levels will rise from £23,000 to £25,323 for families in
Greater London and from £20,000 to £22,020 for families nationally. The levels for
single households without children will rise from £15,410 to £16,967 in Greater London
and from £13,400 to £14,753 nationally.</p>
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