With the cost of living crisis continuing to worsen, there are a number of payments available to those struggling financially.
So far, over seven million households across the UK have received the first £326 instalment of the £650 cost of living payment. The second £324 sum will be paid this autumn.
The cost of living payment is delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to households that claim certain qualifying means-tested benefits.
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People who receive Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit from HMRC will also get the payment, with the first instalment due to be paid this month. The second will follow in the winter.
There are a number of further payments available to people that will be paid between now and the end of the year, including a £150 cash boost to those claiming disability benefits, a £300 payment paid to certain pensioners receiving the Winter Fuel Payment, and a £400 energy bill rebate issued to all households.
As a result, help will be made available to people whether they are claiming benefits or not. As reported by Lancashire Live, here is a rundown of all of the cost of living payments available up until the end of 2022.
How to check if you qualify for financial support
There are three different cost of living payments available, and depending on your individual circumstances you could qualify for all of them.
£650 cost of living payment
- This is paid to people who claim means-tested benefits to Tax Credits and is paid in two instalments of £326 and £324
- If you claim as part of a couple, you will only qualify for one payment between the two of you
£150 Disability cost of living payment
This is paid to people who claim certain disability benefits
- It is paid per individual claim
£300 Pensioner cost of living payment
- If you qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment, you will receive this sum
- Again, if you claim as part of a couple, you will only qualify for one payment between the two of you
The autumn months: £650 cost of living payment for those eligible
As previously mentioned, this is paid in two instalments of £326 and £324. The majority of recipients will have the first instalment, though the DWP has stated that complicated cases may be delayed.
Qualifying benefits and Tax Credits
You may be eligible for the £650 cost of living payment if you receive any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Special note about Tax Credits
In order to receive the first cost of living payment, you need to have been eligible for a payment of Tax Credits or an annual award of at least £26 of Tax Credits between April 26 and May 25.
If you receive both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will get a cost of living payment for Child Tax Credit only.
If you receive Tax Credits from HMRC and a low-income benefit from the DWP, your money will be issued by the DWP.
The first payment will be made in September and the second will be issued in the winter.
September: £150 disability cost of living payment
In order to be eligible, you must have gotten a payment for any of the following during the qualifying period:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
If you receive a qualifying disability benefit from the Ministry of Defence and a qualifying disability benefit from the DWP, you will be administered the £150 payment from the DWP only.
October: £400 energy rebate
Every household throughout the UK that has a domestic electricity connection will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills. The rebate will be applied automatically so there is no need to get in touch with suppliers.
How the discount will be applied to customers
The rebate will be issued by suppliers to consumers over a period of six months starting from October. It will be issued as follows:
- October - £66
- November - £66
- December - £67
- January - £67
- February - £67
- March - £67
The rebate will be issued on a monthly basis regardless of whether customers pay monthly or quarterly. If you do not receive the first instalment by the start of November, you should reach out to your supplier.
Prepayment meter customers
Consumers with smart prepayment meters will have the rebate credited directly to their meter in the first week of each month. Those with traditional prepayment meters will be issued a redeemable voucher or a Special Action Messages (SAM) in the first week of each month.
November and December: £300 pensioner cost of living payment
Qualifying pensioner households will receive a one-off £300 payment in addition to their Winter Fuel Payment in November or December.
In order to be eligible, you need to be of State Pension age during the qualifying week of 19-25 September 2022 and receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
The £300 payment and who it doesn't apply to
There are certain scenarios in which an individual over the State Pension age will not qualify for the inter Fuel Payment. More information can be found here.
You may also qualify for money from your local council.
READ MORE:
- Glasgow Universal Credit claimants among most likely to be impacted by crackdown
- Glasgow's best city centre fish and chip shops ranked according to TripAdvisor
- DWP issues Winter Fuel Payment update as some claimants qualify for £300 boost
- New September driving laws that every motorist should be aware of to avoid a fine
- Scottish Power offers energy bill cash boost to DWP claimants ahead of new price cap
