The rising cost of living is continuing to stretch budgets across the UK, with warnings of more to come.

Energy billsare soaring, rents are increasing and inflation has reaching hitting record highs for months in a row.

Living standards are forecast to fall at their fastest page since the 1950s in response to the crisis, as wages fail to keep up with rocketing prices.

Poorer households are expected to be hardest-hit, while eldery people have reported having to choose between heating or food.

The government revealed more help this week to try and help households navigate the cost of living crisis.

Here is what is available at the moment to help easy the financial burden.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has twiced extended the lifespan of the Household Support Fund, originally only intended to run from October 2021 to March 2022, so that it will now be available until March 2023, granting local authorities a total of £1.5 billion to hand out over 18 months among residents they deem to be most in need of financial help.

Precisely how much individuals receive could vary between households depending on their circumstances as the calculation is left up to councils’ discretion, although £200 is the headline rate.

The process of applying begins through your local council’s website, which you can find here by entering your postcode.

Search “Household Support Fund” on your local authority’s site for more details about how funds are allocated and distributed in your area to see whether you are eligible for a grant and, if so, how much.

The chancellor said on Thursday every household will receive a £400 energy bill discount as a cushion for soaring prices.

This will replace a planned £200 universial loan that was announced in February. It is now being doubled and turned into a grant, with customers no longer having to pay the money back.

Households will get the £400 energy discount from October. It will be paid directly to households across the UK.

This was another measure announced by Mr Sunak on Thursday to try and ease the cost-of-living crisis for the poorest in the UK.

The £650 grant applies to more than eight million households on benefits on Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Pension Credit, and legacy benefits.

There is no need to apply for it. Instead, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will pay the money straight into the bank accounts of those eligible.

It will be paid in two instalments. The first will be in July and the second later in the autumn.

Mr Sunak announced a new one-off grant for pensioners during the cost-of-living crisis on Thursday as well.

Individuals will be eligible if they are over the state pension age - 66 years old or above - between 19 and 25 September this year.

Again, pensioners do not need to apply to receive the payment. It will be paid directly to them in November or December alongside the winter fuel payment.

They usually receive £200 to £300 to cover energy costs in winter, so this means they will get double the usual support.

This was another cost-of-living payment revealed by the chancellor this week.

The £150 grant will be paid to eligible individuals receiving disability benefits. These are:

As with all the new cost-of-living grants, there is no need to apply and the grant will be paid directly to those eligible.

This payment will be made by September.

The additional payments to low-income households, pensioners and those in receipt of disability benefits aim to give extra help to those considered the most vulnerable to the rising cost of living.