This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61592496

The article has changed 66 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 42 Version 43
Cost of living: What payments are available and how do you claim? Cost of living: What payments are available and how do you claim?
(about 1 month later)
Some groups will be eligible for payments of up to £900 to help with their energy bills from April 2023. Some groups will be eligible for payments worth hundreds of pounds to help with their energy bills and other costs, starting in April.
Low-income households, pensioners and some disabled people should have now received their cost-of-living payments for 2022. Low-income households, pensioners and some disabled people will receive additional cost-of-living payments, as the scheme from last year is extended.
Everyone's energy bill is also already being cut by at least £400 this winter. However, a winter discount on everyone's energy bill is now over.
What's happening to my energy bill?What's happening to my energy bill?
What cost-of-living payments will be available in 2023? What cost-of-living payments will be available?
From April, some groups will receive payments to help with energy costs: Some groups will receive payments to help with higher bills, including:
£900 in total in three instalments in spring, autumn and spring 2024 to households on means-tested benefits (the same payments listed above) £900 in total in three instalments in spring, autumn and spring 2024 to households on means-tested benefits
£300 for pensioner households in the winter£300 for pensioner households in the winter
£150 to people on certain disability benefits, paid in the summer£150 to people on certain disability benefits, paid in the summer
The government says it will publish more information about the exact timing of the payments. The first instalment of £301 for those on means-tested benefits will be made between 25 April and 17 May.
What cost-of-living payments have people already received? Who is eligible for the £900?
Two payments totalling £650 have been made to more than eight million low-income households. The payment, in three instalments, is available to households who receive the following benefits:
The first instalment of £326 was paid between 14 and 31 July. The second instalment of £324 should have reached those eligible by the end of December.
They are available to households who receive the following benefits:
Universal CreditUniversal Credit
income-based Jobseeker's Allowanceincome-based Jobseeker's Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowanceincome-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income SupportIncome Support
working tax creditworking tax credit
child tax creditchild tax credit
pension creditpension credit
The payment reference on the recipients' bank accounts was their national insurance number, followed by "DWP COL". The payment reference on a recipient's bank account will be their national insurance number, followed by "DWP COLP".
The 1.1 million people who receive only tax credits, rather than any of the other benefits received their second instalment between 23 and 30 November, straight into their bank accounts with the payment reference "HMRC COLS". Their first payment was paid in September. The 1.1 million people who receive only tax credits, rather than any of the other benefits, will be paid slightly later than others.
People were not eligible for these payments if they receive New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker's Allowance - unless they get Universal Credit. People are not eligible for these payments if they receive New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker's Allowance - unless they get Universal Credit.
This video can not be played
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Worried about energy bills? The BBC's Colletta Smith tells you - in a minute - about four discounts and payments that could help
Worried about energy bills? The BBC's Colletta Smith tells you - in a minute - about four discounts and payments that could help
Anyone who thinks they should have received the help but did not should contact the office that pays their benefit or tax credits, or report it here.Anyone who thinks they should have received the help but did not should contact the office that pays their benefit or tax credits, or report it here.
To qualify for the latest instalment, people had to have been claiming a benefits payment between 26 August and 25 September, with the exception of pensioner households, who may be able to have a new Pension Credit claim backdated. To qualify for the next instalment, people had to have claimed a benefits payment between 26 January and 25 February 2023, or received a payment for an assessment period ending between these dates. Pensioner households may be able to have a new pension credit claim backdated.
An estimated 850,000 pensioner households do not claim Pension Credit, which is a gateway to these extra payments. An estimated 850,000 pensioner households do not claim pension credit, which is a gateway to these extra payments.
Other eligibility details are outlined here for people in England, Wales and Scotland, and here for people in Northern Ireland. Other eligibility details are outlined here.
None of these cost-of-living payments affect the tax you pay, or the benefits or tax credits you receive.None of these cost-of-living payments affect the tax you pay, or the benefits or tax credits you receive.
What other support is available? What cost-of-living payments have people already received?
Everyone's energy bill is being cut by at least £400 this winter. Two payments totalling £650 have been made to more than eight million low-income households.
This is being applied over six months, with a £66 reduction in October and November, and a £67 discount every month between December and March 2023. The first instalment of £326 was paid between 14 and 31 July. The second instalment of £324 should have reached those eligible by the end of December.
The discount will be made automatically by energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales. There is no need to apply or to give extra information. Payments of £300 were also paid to pensioners during the winter just gone, and a £150 payment was also made last year to those with disabilities.
Customers have been warned to ignore scam emails and texts asking for personal information in order to receive the discount. Some people would have received all of those payments, if they were eligible.
Direct debit and credit customers will have the money added to their account or automatically to their bank account. What other support has been available?
Customers with prepayment meters will have the amount applied to their meter, or receive a voucher. However, many people have not received or redeemed these vouchers and may have missed out. Everyone's energy bill was cut by at least £400 during winter.
Anyone who does not use mains gas and electricity - such as those using heating oil - gets an extra £100 on top of the £400. This was applied over six months, with a £66 reduction in October and November, and a £67 discount every month between December and March.
Separate arrangements are being made for households in Northern Ireland, which has its own energy market. They will receive a single payment of £600 starting in January, which is higher than the rest of the UK because a higher proportion of households use heating oil. The discount was made automatically by energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales. However, there are no plans so far for this to be repeated next winter.
Direct debit customers in Northern Ireland will have the money paid into their bank accounts. Other customers will be sent a voucher. Separate arrangements were made for households in Northern Ireland, which has its own energy market. They are receiving a single payment of £600 starting in January, which is higher than the rest of the UK because a higher proportion of households use heating oil.
Direct debit customers in Northern Ireland are having the money paid into their bank accounts. Other customers will be sent a voucher.
What help are disabled people getting?What help are disabled people getting?
Up to six million people on the following disability benefits started to receive £150 on 20 September and all should have received the money: Up to six million people on the following disability benefits will receive another £150 later in the year:
Disability Living AllowanceDisability Living Allowance
Personal Independence PaymentPersonal Independence Payment
Attendance AllowanceAttendance Allowance
Scottish Disability PaymentsScottish Disability Payments
Armed Forces Independence PaymentArmed Forces Independence Payment
Constant Attendance AllowanceConstant Attendance Allowance
War Pension Mobility SupplementWar Pension Mobility Supplement
Disabled need more help, charities tell Tory rivals
What extra help will pensioners get?What extra help will pensioners get?
Households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment - which is worth £200-£300 and is paid to nearly all homes with at least one person of pension age - should have received an extra £300 in November or December.Households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment - which is worth £200-£300 and is paid to nearly all homes with at least one person of pension age - should have received an extra £300 in November or December.
That should cover nearly all pensioners across the UK. That should cover nearly all pensioners across the UK. Another additional cost-of-living payment of £300 will be made next winter,
Lower-income pensioners who claim pension credit will receive the money in addition to the £650 support for those on benefits. Lower-income pensioners who claim pension credit receive the money in addition to the £650 support for those on benefits.
This means a small group of pensioners with disabilities will receive a total of £1,500. This means a small group of pensioners with disabilities have already received a total of £1,500, with more to come.
BBC experts on six things you can do as cost of living rises
'It used to be homeless people, now it's working people'
Try our Family £1 recipe meal planTry our Family £1 recipe meal plan
Why are prices rising so much?Why are prices rising so much?
Are you setting up a warm bank? We want your stories What does the Budget mean for energy bills?
What happens if I can't afford to pay my mortgage?
What other payments have been made?What other payments have been made?
About 80% of households should have received a £150 energy rebate, often through their council tax bill. A £150 rebate, often through people's council tax bill, was made last year.
The payment method is depended on whether you pay your council tax by direct debit and where you live in the UK. The payment method depended on whether you pay your council tax by direct debit and where you live in the UK.
Some people were given fuel vouchers through the Household Support Fund, which is distributed by local councils.Some people were given fuel vouchers through the Household Support Fund, which is distributed by local councils.
What else is the government doing to tackle energy prices?What else is the government doing to tackle energy prices?
The government launched an energy price guarantee in October 2022, which limits a typical duel-fuel household's annual energy bill to £2,500. The government launched an Energy Price Guarantee in October 2022, which limits a typical duel-fuel household's annual energy bill to £2,500.
It is not a cap on how much customers actually pay - your bill depends on how much energy you actually use.It is not a cap on how much customers actually pay - your bill depends on how much energy you actually use.
The scheme was initially designed to last for two years, but was then reduced to six months.The scheme was initially designed to last for two years, but was then reduced to six months.
However, the government confirmed the guarantee will continue after April 2023, but will increase to £3,000. However, the government has now confirmed the guarantee will continue until July.
The plan applies to all households in England, Scotland and Wales, with the "same level of support" available in Northern Ireland. The plan applies to all households in England, Scotland and Wales, but in Northern Ireland a typical bill is lower.
What about help for businesses?What about help for businesses?
The government also announced a scheme to cut energy bills for businesses, for six months from October to March 2023. The government also announced a scheme to cut energy bills for businesses, which ends at the end of March.
Support for firms in the subsequent 12 months will be much less generous. Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, received a larger discount than others.
Companies will get a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped.
Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, will get a larger discount than others.
Firms fear ‘worst to come’ over energy bills
How is the rising cost of living affecting you? Please get in touch by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.How is the rising cost of living affecting you? Please get in touch by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSayTweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Upload your pictures/video hereUpload your pictures/video here
Or fill out the form belowOr fill out the form below
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policyPlease read our terms & conditions and privacy policy
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.If you are reading this page and can't see the form you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
PensionersPensioners
MoneyMoney
Personal financePersonal finance
Energy industryEnergy industry
DisabilityDisability
Cost of livingCost of living