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| Cost of living: What payments are available and how do you claim? | Cost of living: What payments are available and how do you claim? |
| (21 days later) | |
| Millions of people are now receiving the next round of payments to help with rising bills, as a committee of MPs investigate the fairness of the scheme. | |
| Low-income households, pensioners and some disabled people will receive additional cost-of-living funds following an extension to the scheme from last year. | |
| MPs are studying whether the design of the payments system has supported those most in need. | MPs are studying whether the design of the payments system has supported those most in need. |
| What's happening to my energy bill? | What's happening to my energy bill? |
| What cost-of-living payments will be available? | What cost-of-living payments will be available? |
| Some groups will receive payments to help with higher bills, including: | 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 | £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 first instalment of £301 for those on means-tested benefits will be made between 25 April and 17 May. | The first instalment of £301 for those on means-tested benefits will be made between 25 April and 17 May. |
| Who is eligible for the £900? | Who is eligible for the £900? |
| The payment, in three instalments, is available to households who receive the following benefits: | The payment, in three instalments, is available to households who receive the following benefits: |
| Universal Credit | Universal Credit |
| income-based Jobseeker's Allowance | income-based Jobseeker's Allowance |
| income-related Employment and Support Allowance | income-related Employment and Support Allowance |
| Income Support | Income Support |
| working tax credit | working tax credit |
| child tax credit | child tax credit |
| pension credit | pension credit |
| The payment reference on a recipient's bank account will be their national insurance number, followed by DWP COL. | |
| The 1.1 million people who receive only tax credits, rather than any of the other benefits, may be paid slightly later than others, starting on 2 May. | The 1.1 million people who receive only tax credits, rather than any of the other benefits, may be paid slightly later than others, starting on 2 May. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. | 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. | 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 cost-of-living payments have people already received? | What cost-of-living payments have people already received? |
| Two payments totalling £650 have been made to more than eight million low-income households. | Two payments totalling £650 have been made to more than eight million low-income households. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Some people would have received all of those payments, if they were eligible. | Some people would have received all of those payments, if they were eligible. |
| What other support has been available? | What other support has been available? |
| Everyone's energy bill was cut by at least £400 during last winter. | |
| This was applied over six months, with a £66 reduction in October and November, and a £67 discount every month between December and March. | This was applied over six months, with a £66 reduction in October and November, and a £67 discount every month between December and March. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 will receive another £150 later in the year: | Up to six million people on the following disability benefits will receive another £150 later in the year: |
| Disability Living Allowance | Disability Living Allowance |
| Personal Independence Payment | Personal Independence Payment |
| Attendance Allowance | Attendance Allowance |
| Scottish Disability Payments | Scottish Disability Payments |
| Armed Forces Independence Payment | Armed Forces Independence Payment |
| Constant Attendance Allowance | Constant Attendance Allowance |
| War Pension Mobility Supplement | War Pension Mobility Supplement |
| 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. Another additional cost-of-living payment of £300 will be made next winter, | 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 receive the money in addition to the support provided for those on benefits. | |
| This means a small group of pensioners with disabilities have already received a total of £1,500, with more to come. | This means a small group of pensioners with disabilities have already received a total of £1,500, with more to come. |
| Try our Family £1 recipe meal plan | Try our Family £1 recipe meal plan |
| Why are prices rising so much? | Why are prices rising so much? |
| What happens if I can't afford to pay my mortgage? | What happens if I can't afford to pay my mortgage? |
| What is the inquiry by MPs all about? | What is the inquiry by MPs all about? |
| The Commons Work and Pensions Committee is studying whether cost-of-living payments have been received everyone in need of help. | The Commons Work and Pensions Committee is studying whether cost-of-living payments have been received everyone in need of help. |
| They are studying whether some have missed out on hundreds of pounds because they are just outside the qualifying criteria, and whether the package as a whole is sufficient for low-income families. | |
| The evidence being considered by the committee includes the views of the public. | |
| What other payments have been made? | What other payments have been made? |
| A £150 rebate, often through people's council tax bill, was made last year. | A £150 rebate, often through people's council tax bill, was made last year. |
| The payment method 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 has confirmed the guarantee will continue until July. | |
| The plan applies to all households in England, Scotland and Wales, but in Northern Ireland a typical bill is lower. | 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, which ended at the end of March. | |
| Under a new scheme that began in April, firms get a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped as under the previous deal. | |
| Heavy energy-using sectors, like glass, ceramics and steelmakers, get a larger discount than others. | |
| 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_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
| Upload your pictures/video here | Upload your pictures/video here |
| Or fill out the form below | Or fill out the form below |
| Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | Please 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 Topics | Related Topics |
| Pensioners | Pensioners |
| Money | Money |
| Personal finance | Personal finance |
| Energy industry | Energy industry |
| Disability | Disability |
| Cost of living | Cost of living |