Energy bill help has been extended – but there’s a catch

Hunt was clear that that the government would maintain plans to spend £55 billion on the energy support package to assist struggling households and businesses.

To help support increased fuel and energy prices, aid for households was extended beyond April for a further year through the energy price guarantee. However, he also announced that the cap would rise, taking the average annual bill to £3,000 from the current £2,500.

The most vulnerable groups will receive additional cost of living payments

Additional cost of living payments of £900 were promised to households on means-tested benefits next year, alongside £300 to pensioner households and £150 for individuals on disability benefit.

An additional £1 billion of funding was also announced to enable a further 12-month extension to the Household Support Fund, which is distributed by councils in England to directly help those who needed it most.

Autumn statement 2022: what the latest government budget announcement means for you, from wage increases to energy bill help