Sunak due to announce new financial measures, at 11am today.

GrannyGravy13

I will repeat my first post.

I really do not give a hoot what the reasons are for dealing with the cost of living crisis now, as long as it helps those who need it.

I agree GG, it's good news and that's what's important.

Urmstongran

Some households will blow this money, paid direct into their banks.

That £650 should have been a further discount on fuel bills.
A lot of people will blow a cash payment on booze, cigarettes etc.

UG, have you got a wee book called Old fashioned stereotypes for the use of Conservative-leaning voters?

Urmstongran

Some households will blow this money, paid direct into their banks.

That £650 should have been a further discount on fuel bills.
A lot of people will blow a cash payment on booze, cigarettes etc.

Well that will be up to them all comes under personal responsibility

Urmstongran

Some households will blow this money, paid direct into their banks.

That £650 should have been a further discount on fuel bills.
A lot of people will blow a cash payment on booze, cigarettes etc.

I agree that it would have been better if the money could be credited directly to a person's energy account, in the same way as Warm Homes Discount. However, I imagine that would be far too complicated, and as a result, too costly.

There would also have been the additional problem of what would happen to that credit if the company went out of business and the customer transferred to another company. In theory, the credit should eventually reach their new account, but in reality it can take a long time for that to happen, leaving the customer in dire straits.

When we receive whatever is coming our way, we will transfer it straight across to our energy account, but I only dare risk that because we are with one of the big six suppliers.

Giving pensioners £850 will not come close to helping the wave of inflation that is coming later this year.
The more central government prints and distributes money, the more inflation we get.

We will be back here in 6 months.

If you do that Oldnproud, you’re giving the money to your supplier much earlier than you need to. I know it will earn a pitiful amount of interest in your bank, but keep it there until you have to pay the bills.

Paying into electric accounts will not help those of us who heat with oil.

I agree that it would have been better if the money could be credited directly to a person's energy account…

Why? Some people may be struggling more with paying for food, or fuel/fares to work, or hew school uniforms, or, or, or…

It’s going to adults, who can make their own decisions.

Zonne

^I agree that it would have been better if the money could be credited directly to a person's energy account…^

Why? Some people may be struggling more with paying for food, or fuel/fares to work, or hew school uniforms, or, or, or…

It’s going to adults, who can make their own decisions.

You are absolutely right.

I have been busy with other things and overlooked the fact that this is not just about helping with energy bills, when it is meant to help with all/any financial pressures people are facing.

The full package:

1) One-off disability cost of living payment of £150 to any adult receiving DLA/AA/PIP.

"Many disabled people will also receive the payment of £650 I've already announced, taking their total cost-of-living payments to £800," the chancellor says.

2) Eight million pensioners to get extra £300
The chancellor announces from the autumn eight million pensioner households will receive an extra winter fuel payment of £300.

3) All households to get £400 for energy bills as loan scheme scrapped
The chancellor has also made the £200 loan for energy bills a grant that no longer needs to be paid back and increased its sum to £400.

4) Lowest income households to get one-off payment of £650
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says around eight million of the lowest income households will be sent a one-off payment of £650.

?

They allow things to get bad for people so they can then make things better. It’s like being in an abusive relationship isn’t it

Exactly MayBe!!! Johnson is a narcissistic, controlling, gaslighting bully. This government is abusing its people; grinding us down then throwing us a crumb and ‘demanding’ that we’re grateful! Definitely the MO of an abusive relationship

Some people are never satisfied. They complain nothing’s being done. They complain when something is done.

Germanshepherdsmum

Some people are never satisfied. They complain nothing’s being done. They complain when something is done.

Everyone is happy to have more money I expect. Its just that most of us are aware that its "bribery".

A lot of people will blow a cash payment on booze, cigarettes etc

What an incredibly patronising statement Urmstongran.

They're doing this to try and dig themselves out of a big black hole whilst trying to build a smoke screen to hide behind.
What a deceitful, self serving bunch the members of this government are.
Bunch of ignorant idiots, not a brain between them.

I think that from what I heard, the measures seem sensible and will go in part to alleviate the rising costs for many struggling households. Pensioners who missed out on the recent payments based on council tax bands will now get the extra winter fuel payment and the £400 energy grant, no longer a loan to be repaid. Even though prices are rising in lots of areas, £700 will help a little.

The £650 for low income families is more than I was expecting, add that to the energy grant and they get £1050 in total. I am sure most families will use it wisely to help with some of the cost of living increases. I hope that the ceiling for the lowest income payments covers those in low paid work as well as those on benefits as sometimes such families miss out on financial support.

For me, I’m only going to receive the £400 as I think I will miss out on the winter fuel allowance by a matter of weeks, I will be 66 at the beginning of October but I don’t think I claim my pension until 66 and three months. However, I’m fortunate not to struggle to pay my energy bills as I have a couple of private pensions and investments which I was able to save as a teacher. I know my children are worried about the cost of their bills and mortgages so I might need to help them out as well.

I’m not commenting on the timing of the measures or any other political matters, I’ve just looked at the money to see who will benefit - I hope I’ve understood the announcement correctly.

They’re doing this to help people fgs. I for one am very pleased though I don’t need the money.

I don't think we should assume that because people are on benefits that they will spend it on booze and cigarettes.

Kate 1949, I couldn't agree more. There is no evidence to support this allegation. I taught in an area of high deprivation, and most parents displayed considerable resourcefulness: not all, of course. Some parents were foolish, as are some pensioners, some wealthy people etc;

Some may waste the money but that’s their problem, unless of course they do so to the detriment of their dependants. Maybe giving it in instalments rather than a big dollop would help those who are hopeless at budgeting.

Some people, of all ages, will waste this money, without a doubt.

'Twas ever thus.

But, they will only get it once, and if they waste it, then they will have to live with the consequences of continuing to struggle when the bills come in.

We didn't particularly need this 'windfall', but it will be used wisely.

I have a barrister friend who received several payments of £7000 from the self employed grant as he couldn’t work during the pandemic. He blew it all on buying antiques.

I also know people vegansrock who received the self employed payments and carried on with paid work. Mostly tradesmen for friends, family or in empty houses.

A lot of law firms received furlough money. Some had the good grace not to claim it as money was being raked in by people wfh.

The people wfh were being paid their salary they weren't getting furlough. They certainly weren't taking it in.

It was those that couldn't work at all who were getting furlough money.