A package of further measures to help people with the rising cost of living has been announced by the Welsh Government.

The additional funding includes a £150 cost of living payment to be paid as soon as possible and an extra £200 for low-income households through the Winter Fuel Payment next winter.

It comes as the supplementary budget is due to be published later today (February 15).

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: "People are facing a very real cost-of-living crisis and urgent, meaningful action is required.

"The Chancellor's offer at the start of the month fell short of what people needed. We have been able to go above and beyond to provide Welsh households with more help in paying bills, heating homes, and putting food on the table.

"In total we are nearly doubling the equivalent support provided by the UK Government for those who need it the most, reflecting our priority of creating a fairer Wales in which no-one is left behind."

A further £25 million will be provided as a discretionary fund for local authorities, allowing councils to use their local knowledge to help households who may be struggling.

In 2022/2023, more than £100 million will be provided to strengthen other schemes that help people meet the rising costs of living.

More money will be provided through the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) and through the Winter Fuel Support Scheme, which will deliver the £200 payment later this year to low-income households.

The Discretionary Assistance Fund helps people pay for essential costs such as food, gas, electricity, clothing, or emergency travel, and the Winter Fuel Support Scheme allows households to claim a one-off payment of £200 to provide support towards paying winter fuel bills.

Both schemes have now been extended to March 2023.

Jane Hutt, minister for Social Justice, said: "The funding we are announcing today will ensure more people get more support, in what are challenging circumstances for so many families in Wales.

"As bills rise, prices go up and wages are stretched we know people will need help, that's why I've convened a Wales-wide Cost of Living Summit on Thursday, February 17, with over one hundred participants from a wide range of social partners and third sector organisations across Wales to discuss the crisis and the proactive actions we can take to support people across Wales.

"Addressing the cost-of-living crisis remains a crucial priority for this Government and we will continue to consider all the options available to us."

Click here to find out more about the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) and the [L] https://gov.wales/winter-fuel-support-scheme [L+] Winter Fuel Support Scheme.