To ask the Minister for Communities to outline her plans to support families struggling with rising living costs, who do not qualify for benefits.

My Department offers a range of schemes to support families struggling with rising living costs, and will continue to keep this under constant review. This includes help to improve the energy efficiency of homes through the Affordable Warmth and Boiler Replacement Schemes.

Financial support to help people with fuel costs is provided through the Winter Fuel Payment, paid to eligible older people, as well as through the Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme which will provide immediate support of up to one hundred pounds (£100) worth of electricity, gas or oil to eligible people experiencing an emergency fuel crisis.

The Discretionary Support Scheme provides interest free loans and non-repayable grants to people experiencing financial difficulties to help meet urgent living expense needs or provide essential household items. This is available to anyone whose annual income is below the annual income threshold regardless of whether they are in receipt of benefits.

My Department has been running a Social Supermarket pilot programme since 2017 at five sites to support those in or at risk of food poverty. A social supermarket aims to address the causes of food poverty through the provision of wraparound support, alongside food provision to meet immediate need, and entitlement to benefits is not a requirement to access this service.