Cost of Living payment latest: When can PIP claimants expect £150 disability payment? Plus how to reduce bills

What’s a Personal Independence Allowance?

The payment is to help those living with a disability afford daily living costs.

You could be eligible if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability or difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition, according to the government website.

It is there to help everyday life and mobility.

You could get help with:

• eating, drinking or preparing food
• washing, bathing and using the toilet
• dressing and undressing
• reading and communicating
• managing your medicines or treatments
• making decisions about money
• socialising and being around other people
• working out a route and following it
• physically moving around
• leaving your home

Difficulty is assessed by: Whether you conduct tasks safely, how long it takes you, how often your condition affects this activity, whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment

Are you entitled to Universal Credit if you’re self-employed?

The simple answer is yes. If you’re self-employed, you’ll be able to apply for Universal Credit.

But if you want to get it, you’ll have to show that:

• Self-employment is your main job or your main source of income
• You set regular work from self-employment
• You have invoices and receipts, or accounts
• You expect to make a profit

This means you’ll have to give your Universal Credit work coach evidence of your:

• tax returns, accounts and any business plan
• Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), if you’re registered for Self Assessment
• customer and supplier lists, receipts and invoices
• marketing materials

Once you have shown all these things, you’ll be considered to be “gainfully self-employed” and eligible.

Department for Work and Pensions issue warning of SCAM

Brits have been contacted with messages offering them “support”.

Scammers are taking advantage of the current situation and are pretending to be the DWP offering help.

The emails use the logo of the DWP, duping unsuspecting victims.

It has been urged by the DWP that if you receive an email like this, do not open it and do not click the links.

Do not fill out any personal details.

Brits anger as disabled individuals not eligible for £650 cost of living payment

A petition has been launched for Brits to sign to call on the government to also include disabled Brits in the cost of living payment.

Those on disability benefits are currently excluded from the cost of living payment, and are being offered £150 alternatively.

Currently, Brits cannot sign any petitions for the time being, due to the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

One government benefit many people miss out on

The Attendance Allowance is available for those who have a disability severe enough they require looking after.

It includes those with physical and mental disabilities, but did you know it also covers people who are the State Pension age and older?

You do not need to have a someone caring for you in order to claim.

Those claiming the benefit can get either £61.85 or £92.40 per week, depending on their situation and the level of help required.

It is not means-tested, therefore what you earn, or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.

Claim up to 50% off travel expenses for Universal Credit claimers

Those who are on Universal Credit can apply for a JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card.

According to the National Rail website, “those unemployed claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3-9 months or 3-12 months” are eligible.

They can apply through their Work Coach at the JobCentre Plus.

Domiciliary care workers receive increase in expenses in Monmouthshire

Care workers who travel from home to home will receive in increase in travel expenses.

The South Wales Argus reported that the local council currently pays the HMRC rate of 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, and 25p thereafter.

However it will now boost the initial rate to 50 pence per mile. 

Other councils could follow suit in the local area after this move.

Plumber recommends £15 device that might knock thousands off heating bills

The cheap device might save you a bag this winter.

One TikTok user, djmatrix101, recommended users to buy a  thermostatic radiator valve to lower your bill.

“This device will save you money, if you know how to use it properly,” the engineer recommended.

The advice he gave is to instal the device, and then go around every single room and switch off radiators if the room isn’t in use.

He said: “If you can turn off 50 per cent of your volume of radiators, you will save 50 per cent on your gas bill, it is that straight forward.

“If you’re not using your bedroom radiator, turn it off.”

Indian restaurant owners struggle in cost of living crisis

As restaurants suffer, owners may be forced to hike up the prices of curries to cope.

Prices of ingredient have rocketed, and the cost of energy is rising, leaving owners in a “dark place,” reported Essex Live.

Shale Ahmed, who represents restaurant owners in Birmingham, and runs Aspire & Succeed, a community and youth organisation.

He said: “The industry has faced and overcome many obstacles before but this could be the starkest one yet.

“It is in a very dark place and if we’re not careful it could fall off a cliff and leave thousands in the sector unemployed.”

Government’s decision to reject automatic benefit repayments ‘disappointing’

The Work and Pensions Committee has published its response to the governments decision over its living support recommendations.

The report asked the Government to delay automatic repayments from benefits to help households struggling with the cost of living.

It also called for the DWP “to work to increase the speed with which changes can be made to legacy benefit and state pension rates.”

The Government responded that pausing deductions would not be in the best interests of claimants, it has no plans to change this.

Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “The Government’s rejection of our recommendations at a time when so many families are continuing to feel real pain from rising prices is disappointing.

“While a package of support on energy bills is promised, the appointment of a new Secretary of State presents a fresh opportunity to consider whether a change of approach at the DWP could also offer extra help for people through the benefits system.”

£1,500 worth of payments to be released between now and Christmas

Here is a list of the payments for the cost of living.

• July to September – £650 cost of living payment
• September – £150 disability cost of living payment
• October to March – £400 energy rebate
• November to December – £300 pensioner cost of living payment

Who is eligible for the disability cost of living payment?

Check the following list to see if you might be eligible for the £150 payment.

A lump sum payment of £150 is being issued to those who recieve the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

Disability living payment could be delayed

The Department for Work and Pensions said that “the process may take longer”.

An update has been issued by the DWP, regarding the payment.

Payments will be made automatically from Tuesday, September 20, with “the vast majority of those eligible expected to receive their one-off payment by the beginning of October.”

For the people waiting to be assessed for eligibility “the process may take longer but payments will still be automatic.”

Retirements under threat as prices surge

Research shows that soon to be pensioners are delaying their retirements.

My Pension Expert revealed that 37 per cent of those in work believe the cost-of-living crisis has made retirement difficult, out of 1,254 UK adults aged 40 and above.

Andrew Megson, executive chairman of My Pension Expert, told the Mirror: “Even in the best of circumstances, the prospect of losing a steady source of income can be daunting for those entering retirement.

“However, with the cost-of-living crisis worsening, the disheartening truth is clearly that many are having to reconsider their retirement plans despite decades of saving.”

Brits warned against cashing in pensions

For over 55s it might be tempting to dip into the savings pot to pay the bills, but one expert has warned against it.

It has been revealed that those of age are being targeted by pension firms, encouraging them to release cash, the Guardian reported.

A former pensions minister has advised Brits against this.

Steve Webb said for active members of a workplace pension are probably paying very little in charges to transfer money out.

He told the Guardian that this “could be a very bad idea”.

The publication says dipping in now will make it harder to build a pension pot back up in future.

Your annual limit for tax-privileged pension savings could fall by 90 per cent.

Switching bank accounts can help you save during the cost of living crisis

Finding new ways to save will be crucial as the cost of living continues to worsen.

According to Andrew Hagger, a personal finance expert, switching bank accounts could save you some impressive sums if you make the right decision.

He said: “The switching process is really simple now.

“So if you are not happy with the service or rates from your bank, now is a great time to consider jumping ship and getting a nice cash bonus for your troubles.”

Poorest households face £800 wage gap

It has been revealed that there is a £800 gap between prices rising and the benefits packages families are given.

Those on the lowest of incomes will struggle to meet the £2,500 cost of living this winter, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Yahoo! Finance reported: “Families will receive around £2,100 including the £400 energy rebate, lump sum payments of up £650, and a £150 council tax rebate — leaving them £800 short.”

End Fuel Poverty Coalition said told the publication that 7 million households will still be in fuel poverty this winter.

Cost of living crisis blows for first time buyers

New research has shown that almost two thirds of new buyers are scaling back their savings.

Seven in 10 new home buyers have said that their attempts to purchase a property have been hindered.

Aldermore bank revealed that a third of buyers are putting their first purchase on hold for up to 20 months, the Independent reported.

Energy Price Plan ‘can’t mask’ that Brits are ‘already struggling’

Liz Truss announced her Energy Guarantee Plan, with an energy price cap at £2,500.

The cap means Brits will not pay more than £2,500 a year on energy bills until October 2024.

But, Richard Lane, StepChange director of external affairs, said that this will not be enough to help those on lower incomes and pensioners.

He told the Daily Record that the change “can’t mask the fact that many people are already struggling at current prices”.

Councillors in Blackburn, Lancashire, approve £150 cost of living payment

Senior councillors approved the payment for families struggling amid the cost of living crisis.

Payments were approved last night, and will be given to 6,000 families in the area, the Lancashire Telegraph reported.

The publication reported: “Those receiving the payments will include 128 families in council tax band E to H excluded from the original £150 payment.”

Typical household energy bill to be capped at £2,500 a year

This is part of Liz Truss’s plan to help struggling homes to pay for energy bills this winter.

A Energy Prince Guarantee has been introduced, including a £400 discount, which means the cap will sit at £2,100.

However, the current price cap is set at £1,971.

In 2019, the energy price cap was set at £1,137 per year.

ScotRail fares to be frozen

Nicola Sturgeon has also announced that ScotRail fares will be frozen until at least March 2023.

She also stated that she will encourage banks and other financial services firms to maximises security for homeowners and businesses.

She also wants to give greater protection to those repaying debts through the Debt Arrangement Scheme, via a new Bankruptcy and Diligence Bill.

Deaths could be higher this winter due to cold homes

A YouGov poll revealed that 21 per cent of Brits won’t be turning the heating on till at least November, to save money on bills.

Before the pandemic, 25,000 extra deaths were recorded between December and March.

The Marmot review released figures stating that 21.5 per cent of all excess winter deaths are connected to the coldest 25 per cent of homes, The Conversation reported.

Richard Morris from the conversation wrote that “5,000 extra deaths occur in winter because people live in cold homes.”

Brits tighten purse strings as ASOS sales drop

It has been announced that the retail giant’s sales have dramatically dropped.

The store is now being “cautious” ahead of the winter months, with “the impact of accelerating inflationary pressures on consumers and a slow start to Autumn/Winter shopping.”

This comes after Primark revealed that customers having less disposable income “will squeeze its profit margin in the next financial year,” reported Yahoo!.

Disabled Brits give up basic living essentials

Those living with disabilities are twice as likely to struggle to pay for food and heating.

Research from Scope, a disability equality charity, shows 91 per cent of respondents are worried about their energy bills, reported the Metro.

A further 45 per cent said they can’t afford heating bills when it gets cold.

The charity even warned that disabled people will be launched into a “Dickensian dystopia” if the government don’t offer financial support.