Millions of people have been struggling to pay their bills amid the UK's cost-of-living crisis. Food prices have risen by an estimated £811 to annual bills as inflation has reached a record 17.1%.
Temperatures are finally beginning to warm up, which means people no longer have to fork out huge amounts for their energy bills. But for those who are finding it to make ends meet, there is help available in the form of government grants and benefits.
With three bank holidays in May, payment dates for people who do receive Universal Credits, PIP and other benefits could see changes in their payment dates, reports Leicestershire Live.
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A warning for the changes has now been issued as the cost of living remains high in the UK, with inflation still in double digits. Other key financial support, such as the Energy Bill Support Scheme (EPG), has not ended also. The EPG was introduced by former Prime Minister Liz Truss 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.
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 Monday (May 8), with the month’s third one set to take place 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
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