Impact of UK government energy and cost of living support measures on households across the UK
Estimates of the total cost of the UK government’s energy and cost of living support measures in 2022 and 2023 in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and their impact on household incomes.
Applies to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
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Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities analysis shows that the UK government has provided a package of measures which will be worth around £7 billion in Scotland, £3.7 billion in Wales, and £2.1 billion in Northern Ireland to help households and businesses to weather the impact of soaring energy prices in 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024.
All households were provided with support, but the poorest households gained the most. The average level of support was most generous in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Yearly disposable incomes of the poorest tenth of households in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were propped up through the measures by over 20%. That’s the equivalent of the UK government providing the poorest households in the UK nations 2 extra months of net pay. The average household in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland gained between 7.0% and 8.8% of their annual income – the equivalent of around 1 extra month of net pay.