Fears of a bleak winter for many families are growing. It comes amid concerns over the impact of the end of the Household Support Fund.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that six in 10 local councils will be unable to provide extra welfare support when the Household Support Fund ends later this year.
Research suggests that more than four out of five councils in England expect demand for welfare support to increase over the winter - just as government funding for vulnerable households is due to run out.
The warning follows last month's announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that the winter fuel allowance for pensioners would be means-tested, among a series of measures aimed at filling what she said was a £22 billion black hole in the public finances.
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