More East Devon working people than pensioners helped with bills

£33,000 in pot to give away in next fortnight

East Devon District Council has helped more working families than pensioners to meet the costs of food and bills over the winter.

The council was handed £162,000 from Devon County Council to distribute to people in need.

Of the people applying, 136 were in employed or self-employed, compared with 45 pensioner households

The funds came from the Household Support Fund, set up by the government during the pandemic. 

The scheme closes at the end of this month, with £33,000 still in the kitty - and the council is encouraging people to apply before the deadline.

It employs 'financial resilience officers' to give advice and guidance to help residents through tough times.

The council says the grants have helped residents from all walks of life - although 79 per cent were unemployed, seven per cent were in full time employment, eight per cent were employed part-time and six per cent were self-employed. A total of seven per cent of the applicants were also homeowners, 90 per cent were renters and three per cent were homeless.

East Devon received 648 applications, split as follows:

• 247 receiving disability benefit
• 135 with a carer in the household
• 25 pensioner households
• 11 previous in the armed forces

The areas with the most applicants were Exmouth (321), Honiton (113), Axminster (106), Sidmouth (65) and Ottery St Mary (61).

Councillor Megan Armstrong, portfolio holder and chair of the EDDC’s poverty working panel, said: “The Household Support Fund has already helped hundreds of individuals and families who are finding it difficult to pay their ongoing regular household bills and I would encourage anyone else who is struggling financially to contact our financial resilience officers who will be happy to help and advise.

“It would be good if all of the allocated funding could be used to help support those who need help before 31 March, so please do not hesitate to apply.”