Millions of people are eligible to access grants from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in the form of the Energy Support Scheme and the Warm Home Discount, as well as the usual benefits you're are entitled to.
The cost of everyday essentials have gone up by £3,500 over the last three years, Labour has said. The party said official data shows that since December 2019, housing, fuel and power have gone up by £1,480, while food and non-alcoholic drinks have increased by £700.
And millions of UK households are to be hit with a stealth ‘broadband tax’, totalling over £377 million, as providers inflict up to a 14.4% price hike. The average household will now have to pay an extra £78 next year – £1,500 over the life of their service (7.5 years on average) – because of annual price hike clauses baked into consumer contracts.
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As is typical with Bank Holiday weekends, your benefit payments may fall on different days to usual and the Easter weekend in April is no exception. Good Friday and Easter Monday are both bank holidays, so anyone due to receive certain benefits on those dates may see their payment come earlier, the Independent reports, reports Somerset Live.
There are a number of initiatives offering help to people who are struggling, and it can be difficult to keep track of what you are able to claim, how, and when to expect your payment. For a list of financial help and when to expect it, read on below.
What is the Energy Price Guarantee?
Jeremy Hunt announced in his March 15 budget the energy price guarantee would be extended for another three months. This was introduced by Liz Truss in her tenure as Prime Minister so no household would end up paying more than £2,500 for their electricity and gas - instead, the government subsidises the remainder.
People could have been paying an annualised bill of £4,279 between January and April, which has been reduced to £2,500 because of the guarantee. Ofgem has since dropped the cap to
The chancellor told parliament: "High energy bills are one of the biggest worries for families, which is why we’re maintaining the energy price guarantee at its current level. With energy bills set to fall from July onwards, this temporary change will bridge the gap and ease the pressure on families, while also helping to lower inflation too."
Energy Bill Support Scheme
The final payment of the Energy Bill Support Scheme is set to hit bank accounts at the end of this month. This was introduced by now Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a year ago during his time as Chancellor and gave households and extra £400 over the course of around six months, from October 2022.
The Independent reports some campaigners warned some families could end up paying more in their monthly bills. Citizens Advice boss Dame Clare Moriarty said: "The withdrawal of the Energy Bill Support Scheme will still mean the average monthly bill rises by £67 from April.
"With millions already unable to afford their bills and energy prices set to remain high in the years ahead, the government must now look at long-term solutions to this problem. Many people, especially those on low incomes, will need ongoing support not only to pay their bills but to make their homes safer and warmer through improved energy efficiency."
Winter Support set to end
Alongside the Energy Bill Support Scheme, two more schemes are also set to finish at the end of this month. The Warm Home Discount and the Cold Weather Payment scheme is also set to end later in March.
The UK rate of inflation remains in double figures at 10.1 per cent, which is keeping the cost of goods in supermarkets high. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has also raised interest rates to 4 per cent.
Benefit dates over Easter
Those receiving certain benefits over the Easter weekend can expect their payment day to change because of the Bank Holidays. In your payment would normally fall on April 7 (Good Friday) or April 10 (Easter Monday), you should see your payment come early, on Thursday, April 6 instead.
The benefits affected include:
- Universal credit
- State pension
- Pension credit
- Disability living allowance
- Personal independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Employment support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
Cost of living support payments
The DWP has announced millions of households on low incomed will receive further cost of living support payments worth up to £1,350. Recipients means-tested benefits - including universal credit, pension credit, and tax credit - will receive £900 in three installments from this spring over the course of the next 12 months.
The money will go straight into the bank in three installments, the DWP has said. There will be an additional £150 payment for millions of people with disabilities and an extra £300 for pensioners.
The pay windows are as follows:
- £301 – First cost of living payment – during spring 2023
- £150 – Disability payment – during summer 2023
- £300 – Second cost of living payment – during autumn 2023
- £300 – Pensioner payment – during winter 2023/4
- £299 – Third cost of living payment – during spring 2024
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