MILLIONS of households could be in line for a number of direct payments this year as the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze wallets.
Energy bills, food and fuel costs are soaring putting pressure on many people’s finances as their income doesn’t stretch as far.
1
But there are a range of payments you could be entitled to that will go some way to making your money stretch further.
Cost of living payment
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a giant support package last month to help households combat their rising bills.
Among the support was a £650 cost of living payment to help the poorest and most vulnerable.
Some eight million households are expected to be eligible for the support.
The money will be split into two, with the first £326 instalment to be paid between July 14 and the end of the month.
The second instalment of £324 is set to be paid later on in the autumn with an exact date to be decided.
Those on the following benefits will get the £650 help:
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Most read in Money
Those receiving one of these on May 25 (or who had put in a claim that goes on to be successful by then) will be eligible for the first instalment.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it would confirm the eligibility date for the second instalment soon.
You may also get the £650 payment paid to you if you are being awarded Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.
To find out more, you can visit the government’s website.
Winter Fuel payment
Thousands of pensioners on low incomes are set to get extra cash to help them through the winter.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that those who usually get the Winter Fuel Payment will get an additional one-off payment of £300 to help tackle the cost of living crisis.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a benefit paid once a year to older people in the UK with a limited income.
And the government’s extra payment will be made in November – it is designed to help cover the costs of heating over the colder months.
You will get Winter Fuel Payment automatically through a bank account (you do not need to claim) if you are eligible and either:
- get the State Pension
- get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)
If you do not get either of these, or if you live abroad, you may need to make a claim though.
Council tax rebate
Rishi Sunak also announced back in February a council tax discount for 28 million households in an extra bid to help struggling households.
The £3.6 billion package, allocated to town halls, has given everyone living in homes with council tax bands A-D the chance to get hold of a £150 rebate.
The package covers 80% of homes.
Payments started being made back in April, and the government has set a deadline of September 30.
However, there are a number of households who have yet been paid, whether that be because they don’t pay for their council tax through direct debit, or because of local authority delays.
The scheme means households in the E-H tax bands will not be in line for a rebate.
If you don’t know what your council tax band is, you can use the government’s council tax locator tool.
And if you don’t know what council you fall under, you can use the government’s website again.
Disability cost of living payment
Around six million people across the UK are eligible for a £150 disability cost of living payment from September.
The following people will receive the one-off payment:
- Disability Living Allowance.
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Disability Benefits
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
The payment will be issued to help people pay for specialist equipment, food and increased transport costs.
Claimants must have received a payment of one of the qualifying benefits as of May 25, to get the payment.
And, for many on disability benefits receiving the £650 cost of living payment, the £150 payment will come on top of that.
Payments will be made directly to eligible people across the UK.
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund (HSF) was initially launched by the government in October last year.
It was designed to help households most in need with payments on energy bills, food and fuel.
Hundreds of millions more has been added to the pot since last year in separate announcements by the chancellor.
The money is dished out to local councils who then decide how best to allocate it to people.
Blackpool Council is offering a maximum of £300 cash to help residents who are struggling to afford household bills.
Successful applicants are having the money paid directly to their energy provider, and it will appear as a credit on their bill or pre-payment meter.
However, other councils have decided to offer residents food or energy bill vouchers.
To find out what is on offer, you should speak directly with your local council, or visit its website for more details.
You can find details of your local council by using this tool.
You may find you’re not eligible for the HSF, in which case you can call the below numbers for financial support:
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
