What are the cost of living payments – and how much can you get?
The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £15bn package of measures to help UK households deal with inflation. These include discounts on energy bills and payments to low-income households to help them keep up with rising costs.
The Treasury had promised a £400 discount on energy bills for all households. That is part of the package announced on Thursday but there will also be payments for households who are struggling most with high bills.
Households receiving means-tested benefits will get an additional cost of living payment of £650 – in two instalments. Pensioners will be entitled to a £300 payment and those who claim disability benefits will receive £150.
These come on top of the £150 council tax rebate paid in April.
Those who claim the benefits attached to these payments will receive the money directly into their bank account, without having to make a claim.
The £650 will go to those on universal credit and other means-tested benefits. It will be paid in two parts, the first in July and the second later this year – so far, the Treasury has said “autumn”. To obtain the first one you need to have received – or begun a claim for – the benefits on or before 25 May.
It will be tax-free and not limited by the benefit cap, which restricts how much claimants can receive.
The pensioner payment will go to all those who receive the winter fuel payment and will be paid at the same time – in November or December. To qualify, they need to be over the state pension age between 19-25 September 2022.
The disability payment will be made to those who received non-means-tested disability benefits – or had made a claim – as of 25 May. The money will be paid in September.
Yes. The Treasury says it is possible that some households and
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