MILLIONS of households are eligible for hundreds in bill support this winter.
The free cash support is there to help households get through the Christmas period as inflation soars and energy bills stay high.
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Liz Truss froze energy bills for two years last month, in a bumper cost of living support package.
The policy ensures that the average household will pay no more than £2,500 from October 1 under a new Energy Price Guarantee.
However, the cap is just on what firms can charge customers and thousands of bills could still be higher, based on energy usage.
It comes as inflation hit 9.9% in August, according to the Office For National Statistics.
The Bank of England now predicts inflation will peak at 11% in October and then remain above 10% for a few months after.
And many could still be entitled to a raft of cash support worth thousands of pounds on top of the latest help with bills.
Energy bills rebate payments begin – worth £400
Millions of households started to receive a £400 energy bill discount from October 1.
The payment will be dished out by your energy supplier and will be split across six discounts between October and March next year.
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Households will receive a £66 energy bill discount in October and November and a discount worth £67 in December, January, February and March.
We’ve listed how the leading energy suppliers plan to pay households.
British Gas, EDF Energy, Ovo Energy and Scottish Power plans to send the cash directly into customer bank accounts.
The way you’ll be paid will depend on how you pay for your energy.
If you’re on a credit meter or smart prepayment meter the discount will come off your bills or be credited to your account automatically.
Those on traditional prepayment meters will receive the discount through a voucher.
Check with your supplier to confirm how you’ll receive the cash.
Cost of living payment – worth £324
Millions of households have been paid the first part of their £650 cost of living payment.
Around eight million payments have already been made to help hard-up households to help them pay for spiralling bills and essentials.
And those on the following benefits are eligible for the second payment worth £324:
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
The second payment will be paid between November 8 and 23.
The cash will automatically land in the bank account that people use to receive their benefits.
But those receiving tax credits will be paid after November 23.
The government is paying tax credit claimants later than those getting DWP benefits like Universal Credit to avoid paying anyone twice.
Anyone who claims both types of the benefit – child tax credit and working tax credit – will have the payment made into the bank account where child tax credits are paid.
Pensioner cost of living payment – worth £300
In November, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” will be paid out to eight million households.
It will be given to those who already get the winter fuel payment, worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
To qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment and Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, the following must apply:
- You were born on or before 25 September 1956
- You lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 – this is called the ‘qualifying week’
Warm Home Discount – worth £150
Millions of households are in line to get a £150 discount off their energy bills between December and March 2023.
You’ll be eligible for the automatic discount if you received any of the following benefits up to August 21 this year:
The Department for Work and Pensions, who’s overseeing the scheme, will send you a letter in October to confirm if you’ll get the payment later on in the year.
Payments for the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme will likely begin in December.
It’s up to individual energy companies to decide when they will give their customers the discount.
If you’re unsure about who supplies your energy, you can find out through Find My Supplier.
Household support fund – up to £150
Local councils are giving out cash to help households struggling with bills and other essential costs.
How much you can get depends on where you live and in many areas.
To qualify you’ll usually need to be a recipient of council tax support.
You can search for yours using the search tool on gov.uk – just enter your postcode.
Local councils also offer welfare assistance schemes all year round that can help you with bills.
Cold weather payment – worth up to £75
When temperatures plummet those in low-income households can get a £25 payment.
These cold weather payments have already been made in several locations where residents have experienced below zero weather.
The payment is made automatically, including to those on Universal Credit, for each seven-day period of low temperatures between November 1 and March 31.
In the coldest areas three £25 payments have been made so far this winter, adding up to £75 in total.
Other bill support is available
Fuel vouchers – £50
If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
The fuel voucher scheme comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and it’s offered through a range of organisations, like food banks and Citizens Advice.
The best place to start to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher is by asking your local council – you can find yours via gov.uk by searching your postcode.
The voucher should help you cover around two weeks’ worth of electricity use.
Some energy companies may also issue their own vouchers, so ask your supplier directly.
Energy grants – worth up to £1,500
There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling.
British Gas has recently confirmed that it’ll pay its most vulnerable customers grants worth £750 to help with sky-high bills.
The British Gas Energy Trust has previously paid struggling households up to £1,500 – and you don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this help.
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:
Check other benefits and help you can get
It’s also worth noting that millions of Brits are missing out on benefits they’re entitled to adding up to billions of pounds in total.
Benefit calculators can help you check what you could be entitled to.
There are several benefit checker tools you can use – here’s our guide.
You can get free debt advice
If you’re in debt there are plenty of services you can take advantage of and they offer free advice on how to manage debt.
Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.
They can also help you take the next steps if you need a debt management plan (DMP) to tackle your debt or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). These are agreements for managing multiple debts.
