Zara N

In answer to your question I think a cash first approach is always the best. To offer vouchers or goods is basically a clear message to people on low incomes that 'you are not trusted' with cash. I think that the cost of administering vouchers and goods, depletes the social fund pot. Think back to COVID when some councils outsourced food packages to private companies, and the shocking quality and small amount that these food parcels contained.

I think it is not up to the government to monitor how people spend their money, unless they do not have mental capacity or there are child protection issues. I received cash from Latch cancer charity, for food for myself when I was staying in hospital with my son. I was told not to declare this as the benefits would see this as a source of income, I did not spend all the money on food for myself I put some towards things for my son or for bills. It is the same for cash for items, if someone wants to buy a second hand fridge instead of a new one and save the rest of the money they are entitled to for that item, then I think that is fine. It is helping people to manage budgets and make individual decisions based on what is best for them.