People up and down the country are struggling with increasing costs. However, the Government has put several programmes in place to help to support families financially.
Here is a list of the financial help you could get in March.
The guide includes information about cold weather payments and the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Read more: Energy bills to be slashed for millions of households with a prepayment meter
State benefits and pensions
There are no public holidays in March so you can expect pensions and benefits to be paid on time. These payments are made directly to your bank account on the same date each month.
Universal credit
State pension
Pension credit
Disability living allowance
Personal independent payment
Attendance allowance
Carer’s allowance
Employment support allowance
Income support
Jobseeker’s allowance
Energy support payments
March will mark the final payment in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s energy bill support scheme. The package, worth £400, would directly reduce bills and soften the blow of rising prices and doesn’t need to be repaid.
The first instalment of £66 was paid in October, followed by another in November. Customers received £67 in three instalments in December, January and February with the final £67 coming in March.
Those who pay by direct debit will have had their bills reduced automatically while those on pre-payment meters will receive the discount by a voucher sent by text, email or post. The Government recently revealed that thousands of customers who had been sent vouchers have yet to redeem them.
The DWP says that some vouchers, for 380,000 homes, are worth around £50 million. Vouchers are sent with a 90-day expiry date so make sure to redeem them as soon as possible.
Warm home discount
The Government’s warm home discount scheme runs until March 31 and grants £150 to residents to see them through the winter. The grant is applied directly to energy bills.
The money will be paid to help with high energy costs to anyone receiving the following benefits: pension credit, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, universal credit, housing benefit or child tax credits and working tax credits.
Cold weather payments
The Government’s cold weather payments also run until March 31 and mean that low-income households can receive £25 for every seven-day period where the temperature falls below zero.
There have been three payments made to many North East households for cold spells during December and January. Despite snow falling across much of the region over the weekend, it appears as though the mercury has yet to fall low enough, however, with more cold weather predicted, it is still a possibility.
Should the weather hit low enough temperatures, the money for the cold weather payment is paid directly into your bank account. Those on qualifying benefits, such as pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, Income-related employment and support allowance or universal credit, are entitled to the money.
Read next:
NHS prescription prices to increase next month - see what you will now pay
What is the national minimum wage and when will it go up across the country?
Your rights if you have had a prepay meter fitted against your will
State Pension rise for millions in April may see people having to pay tax on income
Pensions deadline put back to July 31 after DWP flooded with demand
