“Finding a way of targeting [support] to the many, many millions who really need it, without giving it to the many, many millions who don’t, appears to be something that has stumped the Treasury and the government for finding a mechanism of achieving that.”

Truss is expected to reveal more about costings for the plan in a mini-budget expected to take place next week, after the period of mourning.

Measures introduced to tackle the cost of living include a £400 energy bill discount for each household (which is factored into the price freeze), a £150 council tax rebate and a £650 payment made in two instalments to households on means-tested benefits.

Stylist contacted BEIS for comment and they responded with the following:

“The Energy Price Guarantee means that from 1 October a typical UK household will now pay an average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years.

“It will save the average household around £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October and is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for households through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

“The most vulnerable UK households will continue to receive £1,200 of support, announced earlier this year, provided in instalments over the year. All other support payments promised for this Winter will remain in place.

“We will also be holding a fiscal event later this month to support people further. The date will be announced in due course.

“Example savings based on the type of home are available in our factsheet.

“We are also investing £6.6 billion this parliament to improve energy efficiency across the country, with the majority of our support targeting those on low incomes and vulnerable households. This is benefiting tens of thousands of homes and delivering average savings of £300 a year on energy bills.”

Wealthy households could get “twice as much cost of living support” under new plans, a thinktank says