The UK is embroiled in a cost-of-living crisis as household have been hit by mounting prices of energy, food and petrol.
Soaring costs of wholesale gas prompted Ofgem to lift the price cap by 80% next month with shock forecasts predicting typical bills could surge past £5,000 in April. However, the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss announced this week that bills will be frozen at £2,500 to ease the burden on energy customers.
Ms Truss' plan will see the Ofgem price cap replaced with a 'two-year energy price cap guarantee.' This will see a typical UK household pay no more than £2,500 per year on energy bills for two years from October 1.
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It was also confirmed Ministers will press on with a £400 energy rebate that has already been announced. The £400 discount will be administered by suppliers and paid to customers over six months with payments starting from October 2022.
This is one of a number of financial support packages available to anyone struggling with energy bills. We have rounded up a full list of financial aid being offered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) below:
£650 Cost of Living payment
The DWP confirmed more than eight million low income households will receive £650 in financial aid to help with mounting costs as the price of energy, food and petrol skyrocket. The payments are split into two instalments and eligible claimants should have received £326 between July 14 and July 31
The second payment of £324 should be arriving over the coming weeks.
£150 Disability Cost of Living payment
The DWP confirmed around six million people across the UK will receive the cash boost to help with the additional costs of living with a disability. The financial support will be paid to claimants automatically from September 20 - and the "vast majority" of those eligible will receive the cash by the beginning of October
£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
All eligible pensioner households will get the one-off payment added as a top-up to their annual Winter Fuel Payment in November/December.
To be eligible for this year's Winter Fuel Payment and £300 additional support, you must have been born on or before September 25, 1956 and lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 - this is called the ‘qualifying week’. If you do not meet either of these criteria, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim. If you’ve had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad.
If you do not meet either of these criteria, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim. If you’ve had a Winter Fuel Payment before, you do not need to claim again unless you’ve deferred your State Pension or moved abroad.
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