MILLIONS of hard-up households could soon be getting a cash pay out of up to £1,700 to help with rising bills.
Half of a £650 cost of living payment will soon hit bank accounts form next week for those getting Universal Credit and some other benefits.
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But there’s plenty more help you can get too ranging from bill discounts to help with food and water bills.
How much you get depends on your circumstance. The maximum a household can get if £1,700 – but you have to qualify for the help.
Some payments are automatic and others you need to apply for.
Here’s how you can get the £650 cost of living payment and all the support you can claim through the cost of living crisis.
Check this list of payments to make sure you don’t miss out.
£650 cost of living payment
Eight million households on means-tested benefits will get a £650 cost of living payment.
The payments will automatically go to everyone on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income support, Pension Credit, working tax credit and child tax credit.
The Department for Work and Pensions will make the payment in two lump sums, These are both tax-free and won’t affect your benefits, or count towards the benefit cap.
The first will come from July 14 as a separate payment to your normal benefit amount, and then a second installment will follow some time in Autumn.
You will need to be on eligible benefits or have begun a successful claim which is later, as of May 25 2022 to get the first payment.
If you have a joint claim with a partner, both of you will get one payment of £650.
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It’s not the only cost of living payment you might get this year.
You don’t need to do anything to claim this one.
Every household in the UK will be given £400 to help cover spiralling energy bills, which are set to rise by hundreds of pounds more this winter.
Pensioners will get an extra £300 one-off payment during the coldest months, and six million people with disabilities will receive £150 in September.
£150 disability cost of living payment
Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in May that six million disabled Brits will receive £150 this September.
The money is to help cover the costs of running energy intensive equipment at home.
For many disability benefit recipients who receive means tested benefits, the £150 will come on top of the £650 they will receive separately.
The automatic payments will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.
£150 Council Tax rebate
In February, the government announced it would be offering a council tax rebate to combat rising energy bills.
The £150 payment is for people whose homes fall under council tax bands A-D and local councils are responsible for deciding who is eligible and making payments.
The government set a deadline of September 30 for all payments to be made, and payments started back in April.
Many people who pay their council tax bill by direct debit have already had the cash paid directly into their bank accounts.
But thousands who don’t must apply for the £150 from their local authority.
You can find your local authority by using the government’s handy tool.
Some households are yet to receive payments, but councils have given updates on when residents in those areas should expect to receive them.
£150 from £144 million discretionary fund
Thousands of people who are not eligible for a council tax rebate could still get up to £150 free cash to help with the rising cost of living.
A separate £144 million fund has also been launched, which local councils can dish out to vulnerable and low income households in their area.
An estimated 4.7million households are in council tax bands E-H, so will not get the rebate automatically, but could still qualify for a discretionary payment.
Local authorities are giving out the cash in different ways and the amount you get and who qualifies can vary depending on where you live.
You can find your local council on the government’s website.
£400 energy bills support scheme
Rishi Sunak announced that every household in the UK would get £400 to pay for their energy bills – and they won’t have to pay it back.
The £400 will be paid directly to each household.
If you own more than one property, you’ll get a £400 payment for each home you own.
Anyone with a second home could get the benefit twice.
It will be dished out to households via their energy supplier.
Direct debit and credit card customers will see the money credited to their account.
While those on pre-payment meters will get it added to their meter or receive a voucher.
If you don’t pay your energy bills directly, or you live on a site where the utility is already provided, you won’t get the money off straight away.
£300 Pensioner cost of living payment
In November or December this year, a £300 one-off Pensioner cost of living payment will be dished out to eight million households.
It will be given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
The extra £300 will be paid directly and is on top of this support which means some eligible households will see their payments double this winter.
You can check out if you are eligible for the Winter Fuel payment in this handy explainer.
£200 Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund programme aims to help those struggling with their finances and can’t cover the essentials.
The Scheme is part of the Government’s Household Support Fund which was first introduced in October 2021.
It has recently been extended until September 30, 2022 as millions of people face the ongoing cost of living crisis.
In May of this year Chancellor Rishi Sunak pumped an extra £500million into the scheme. In total, £1.5 billion has been made available.
The money is being dispersed between local councils to help those who need it locally – some councils are giving
Each council determines how to use its budget to help local residents, with many previously dishing out supermarket and fuel vouchers or one-off cash payments.
Not all residents can receive the support due to eligibility requirements, so it’s best to check your local council’s website.
What other help can I get?
Energy suppliers offer cash grants to those hardest hit by bills rises.
For instance British Gas is giving out up to £750 through its hardship fund – and you don’t even have to be a customer.
But the amount can vary according to your supplier and your circumstances.
It’s not just Universal Credit claimants who can get the help, but if you’re on the benefit and have a low income you could qualify.
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:
There are also several free, online tools to help people find the financial support they need like universal credit.
The government introduced a new benefits tool which can be accessed here.
But it’s also worth using other benefit checker tools to understand what support you might get.
There are several free online benefit calculators that will break down your payments and what you’re entitled to. These include:
Do check around before claiming one type of support – the government says on its website that not all support which might be available to you is listed on the checker.
And don’t forget to check in with local charities and organisations to lend you a hand while you figure out what you’re entitled to.
Some helpful companies include:
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
- Step Change – 0800 138 1111
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
