Fund Advance for Cash Paid in to Social Fund: Contingencies
(Limited Text - Ministerial Extracts only)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Torsten Bell)
I would like to notify the House that the Department for Work and Pensions has obtained approval for an advance from the Contingencies Fund of £1,610,000,000
The voted cash requirement for cash to be paid into the social fund exceeds that provided for in the main estimate 2025-26 due to changes to eligibility in the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payments Regulations 2025.
The Contingencies Fund advance is required to enable payments into the social fund to meet obligations until the supplementary estimate receives Royal Assent.
Parliamentary approval for additional resources of £1,610,000,000 will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Department for Work and Pensions. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,610,000,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.
The advance will be repaid at the earliest opportunity following Royal Assent of the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2026.
[HCWS1047]