New research by Citizens Advice has discovered that millions more people have been targeted by fraudsters as the cost of living crisis continues to put the squeeze on household finances.
The charity found that more than three quarters of UK adults said they have been targeted by a scammer this year - a 14 per cent increase over the same period last year.
The most common types of scams reported included deliveries, postal or courier services (55%), someone pretending to be from the UK government or HM Revenue and Customs (41%), someone offering a fake investment or financial 'get rich quick' schemes (29%), rebates and refunds (28%), banking (27%), online shopping (24%), health or medical (13%) or energy scams (12%).
Ahead of households receiving financial payments to help with the cost of living, Citizens Advice warned that it had seen a range of associated scams, including emails claiming to be from Ofgem asking people to enter their bank details to get the £400 energy grant.
Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: "We know scammers prey on our worries and fears and the cost of living crisis is no exception. Anyone can be targeted by a scam, and as the purse strings are tightened and financial pressures pile on, it's more important than ever we recognise the red flags.
"By reporting scams and sharing our own experiences, we can work together to protect ourselves and each other."
Wendy Martin, the director of National Trading Standards, said: "Criminals are exploiting people's worries as household bills rise. Consumers are being put under increasing pressure from a wave of scam emails and cold calls from imposters pretending to be from councils or energy companies.
"We urge people never to give bank details or other personal information to anyone who contacts them out of the blue as legitimate organisations would never put you on the spot in this way.
"We want as many people as possible to be aware of these scams so they can protect themselves and their families. Scams should always be reported so we can catch the criminals, and everyone can arm themselves with the information they need to stay safe by taking part in our free Friends Against Scams awareness training at friends against scams.org.uk."
Below are key dates and qualifying criteria for the three different one-off payments and £400 energy discount for domestic users - nobody needs to apply for any of the new support, they will all be paid automatically.
July and autumn
£650 one-off payment for people on means-tested benefits
The ‘Cost of Living Payment’ of £650 will be made in two instalments for households on means-tested benefits.
People on these benefits will receive the payments:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make the payment in two lump sums - the first from July and the second in the autumn.
Payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for those on Tax Credits only will follow shortly after each to avoid duplicate payments.
How to qualify for the payment:
- To be eligible for the first of the two instalments claimants will need to be in receipt of one of the benefits listed above, or have started a claim which is later successful, as of Wednesday May 25, 2022
HMRC and DWP are due to release further guidance and the UK Government will set out the eligibility date for the second instalment, in due course.
Other key points about the payment:
- This payment will be tax-free
- It will not count towards the benefit cap
- It will not have any impact on existing benefit awards
How will payments be made:
- Directly to households across the UK
September
£150 one-off payment for people on disability benefits
The £150 ‘Disability Cost of Living Payment’ will be paid to people on disability benefits in September.
People on these benefits will receive the payment:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
How to qualify for the payment:
- To be eligible for the £150 one-off payment, claimants must be in receipt of the benefits listed above, or have started an eventually successful claim for one of these benefits as of May 25, 2022
Other key points about the payment:
- Disability benefit claimants who also receive means-tested benefits, will get the £150 on top of the £650, but they will be paid separately
- Payments will be exempt from tax
- They will not count towards the benefit cap
- Payments will not have any impact on existing benefit awards
How will payments be made:
- Payments will go directly to eligible people across the UK
October
£400 discount off energy bills
The UK Government will pay the £400 directly to energy suppliers who will deliver this support to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October.
Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher - this will depend on whether they have a smart meter or not.
Who qualifies for the £400 energy bill grant:
- Domestic energy users in Scotland, England and Wales - equivalent support will be delivered to people in Northern Ireland
Other key points about the payment:
- The £400 does not need to be repaid
- This support is on top of the £150 Council Tax rebate for households in bands A-D (and with a reduction in Scotland), which was announced in February, and which millions of households have already received
How will payment be made:
- Directly to energy suppliers - you do not need to apply for it
November/December
£300 one-off payment for people of State Pension age
All eligible pensioner households will get the one-off ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’ as a top-up to their annual Winter Fuel Payment in November/December.
Who qualifies for the £300 ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’:
- People will be eligible for this payment if they are over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19-25 September 2022 and in receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment
Other key points about the payment:
- The £300 will be paid on top of any other one-off support a pensioner household is entitled to, for example where they are on Pension Credit or receive disability benefits
- The payment is not taxable
- The payment does not affect eligibility for other benefits
Who does not qualify?
- There are certain circumstances where an individual above State Pension age does not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment which can be found on GOV.UK, here
How will payments be made:
- Directly to households across the UK
You can read detailed examples of how the additional support packages will affect different types of households on he GOV.UK website here.
Where to get help and advice
If you are unsure if you qualify for a one-off payment, or have a mixed household, seek professional advice from a non-profit organisation such as Citizens Advice, Advice Direct Scotland, Christians Against Poverty, Turn2Us and StepChange.
To keep up to date with the cost of living crisis, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group here, follow Record Money on Twitter here, or subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter here.
