A cost of living update has been issued to millions of people who claim Department for Work and Pensions benefits as claimants could see changes in their payment dates.
The dates for the latest cost of living and benefits payments have been confirmed, but May’s Bank Holidays mean those expecting benefits payments are now subject to change too.
As people continue to struggle with the ongoing cost of living crisis, a warning for the changes has been issued, reports Leicestershire Live.
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Other key financial support, such as the Energy Bill Support Scheme (EPG), have not ended, but according to The Independent, there are many other options for help out there. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss introduced the EPG last year as part of help for those in need. The EPG ensures households pay no more than £2,500 a year for electric and gas.
It had been thought Chancellor Jeremy Hunt would increase the EPG to £3,000 during the March Budget, but he declined the raise and has extended the current support for three more months. That means the EPG will now end in July as things stand, but Mr Hunt could extend it further then.
His decision came as energy regulator Ofgem dropped the energy price cap by 23 percent to £3,280 for the second quarter of 2023. That means the Government will now be paying on average £780 per household on their bills compared to the £1,779 it had been paying earlier this year when the cap stood at £4,279.
The extension of the EPG comes as the Government’s Energy Bill Support Scheme expired. The scheme was introduced by Rishi Sunak during his time as Chancellor and gave people instalments towards £400 to help with bills, but the initiative ended in March.
However, support does not stop there as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that millions on lower incomes will receive a £1,350 cost of living support boost this year. This means-tested benefit scheme includes people on Universal Credit, pension credit and tax credits and will see them receive £900 in three instalments from this spring.
The cost of living boost will be made in three separate payments according to the DWP. Meanwhile, there is a separate £150 payment for more than six million people with disabilities and an extra £300 for over eight million pensioners.
That means the payments are set to be paid on these dates:
- First £301 cost of living payment - between Tuesday, April 25 and Wednesday, May 17
- £150 disability payment - summer 2023
- Second £300 cost of living payment - autumn 2023
- £300 pensioner payment - winter 2023/24
- Third £299 cost of living payment - spring 2024
Elsewhere, people awaiting payment on their benefits are being warned of changes to their payment date due to the May Bank Holidays. The next one is on Monday, May 29.
People on any of the following DWP payments should now be aware payments will come early due to the Bank Holiday - in most cases one working day early. The affected benefits are:
- 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
Anyone not expecting payment on the May Bank Holidays will be paid as normal. More information can be found on the Government’s website.
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