THE government has announced Dorset residents will benefit from nearly £5m via the Household Support Fund. 

The fund is there to support people who are vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials and is not necessarily for those on benefits. 

Money is available to all councils in England to help those most in need by drawing from local knowledge and making direct contact with people in the community. 

People may be able to get help if they are struggling to afford essentials such as energy and water bills, food, toiletries or warm clothes, for example. 

Last month, the government announced an extension to the Household Support Fund with an additional £421 million for all local authorities up until April 2025. 

BCP Council has been allocated £2,653,367 from the government, while Dorset Council has been given £2,294,941. 

Secretary of state for work and pensions Liz Kendall said: “We are extending the Household Support Fund for the next six months because it is a lifeline for people who are struggling with the cost of living. 

“The dire inheritance we face means more people are living in poverty now than 14 years ago – and this government is taking immediate action to prevent a cliff edge of support for the most vulnerable in our society.”