Cost of living crisis support package

Hi my mum received £100 yesterday from the hardship fund. This is paid in cash from the post office, the same as the £150 council tax help. That’s two trips to the PO this week. she also received the £326 this week.

Oh thank you JaneJudge. I was so mystified as there hasn't been any sort of personal notification. I must have missed it on the news. Anyway, it's great!

henetha, it is. It was on teh radio yesterday

I've just posted on another thread that I am puzzled about why the DWP deposited £326 into my bank account yesterday with no explanation whatsoever. Maybe it's something to do with this.

Franbern

Half the £650 listed at the top of this thread by DaisyAnne has landed in my bank account today.
Anybody else received this yet?

I received £326 into my account today also received a letter from my Local Council about £150 payment refund from Council Tax which they say I am entitled to.

It is worth checking with your Local Authority as each one will administer this Household Support differently.
My county is issuing vouchers only via their employees eg Social Workers, Housing Officers, to target it appropriately, whereas my nearest city is using various advice agencies, housing associations etc who will use their discretion to target the most vulnerable clients.

Half the £650 listed at the top of this thread by DaisyAnne has landed in my bank account today.
Anybody else received this yet?

There is also something called the HARDSHIP SUPPORT FUND. Money paid to local authorities from central government to give help to those in receipt of Council Tax support and are of working age or pensionable age. This money from £50 upwards is awarded as a food voucher and recipients can choose from most supermarkets which they wish to have it for. Also given out to families where children are in receipt of free school meals.

Hello everyone
I receive contributions employment support this means no £650 for myself really think this is unfair as I'm in the same position being on benefits as alot of other clements .

DaisyAnne

*How the £400 will be paid.*

The support will come via energy suppliers to households in England, Scotland and Wales with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. There will also be 'equivalent support' in Northern Ireland.

Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
[Source: Daily Mail]

So this is paid in the same way as the Warm Home Discount.

Two more thoughts occur. Will the Warm Home Discount also be paid to those that are eligible or will it be subsumed into this new discount? Secondly, what do people with oil rather than gas do?

Given that energy bills are likely to rise by at least £60-70 a month per household next Winter, that will mean that the £400 payment is cancelled out. The subsidy will have to continue until prices come down.

I wondered about the Warm Home Discount too. I'm eligible for it, as one of the "broader" group, but Ovo has no way of applying for it.

How the £150 for the disabled will be paid

For the disability benefit recipients who receive means tested benefits this £150 will come in September on top of the £650 they will receive separately. The eligible benefits for the £150 are: Disability Living Allowance; Personal Independence Payment; Attendance Allowance; Scottish Disability Benefits; Armed Forces Independence Payment; Constant Attendance Allowance; or the War Pension Mobility Supplement,

These payments will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. The Government will make these payments directly to eligible people across the UK.
[Source: Daily Mail]

How the £300 for Pensioners will be paid

All pensioner households will get the one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top-up to their annual Winter Fuel Payment in November or December. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit.

People will be eligible for this payment if they are over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between September 19 and 25 this year. The Government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.

However, there are certain circumstances where an individual above State Pension age does not qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment which can be found here on the Government website.
[Source: Daily Mail]

How the £650 for the vulnerable cost of living payment is going to be paid

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will make the payment in two lump sums – the first from July, the second in the autumn. Payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for those on tax credits only will 'follow shortly after each to avoid duplicate payments'.

The Government said claimants will need to be in receipt of one of these benefits; universal credit; income-based jobseekers allowance; income-related employment and support allowance; income support; working tax credit; child tax credit; and pension credit, or have begun a claim which is later successful, as of yesterday - May 25, 2022 - to be eligible for the first of the two instalments.

It added that HMRC and DWP will provide further guidance, and the Government would set out the eligibility date for the second instalment, in due course.

This payment will be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. The Government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.

How the £400 will be paid.

The support will come via energy suppliers to households in England, Scotland and Wales with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. There will also be 'equivalent support' in Northern Ireland.

Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
[Source: Daily Mail]

So this is paid in the same way as the Warm Home Discount.

Two more thoughts occur. Will the Warm Home Discount also be paid to those that are eligible or will it be subsumed into this new discount? Secondly, what do people with oil rather than gas do?

The £400 is over 6 months from October I believe.

I can't see when the £400 is payable. October?

Just read Jax link - it appears it will be credited to our energy bills, so I assume those well in credit already can ask to have it refunded.

I found a chap on BBC breakfast quite misleading - when asked about the fuel grant, he replied to look for a minus on the bill, but as I understood it - it’s a payment that can actually be used for anything?

So people with second homes will get £800?

I think this explains GagaJo
www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

How do 'households' get the grant? Does anyone know?

Thank you / useful

Thank you DaisyAnne.