The Household Support Fund helps those in most need with the cost of essentials such as food, clothing and utilities and, in England, will continue to be distributed to Local Authorities, who are best placed to direct help to those who need it most. The Household Support Fund will provide £1 billion this financial year to help households who are not eligible for other kinds of help or need further support. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK. These payments will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. Six million people who receive Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Scottish Disability Benefits, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance and War Pension Mobility Supplement will receive the support as a one off payment in September. People with disabilities will receive an extra £150 to help with the particular extra costs they face. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit, is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits. The Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will come as a top-up to annual Winter Fuel Payments in November/December.
This payment will go to the over 8 million pensioner households who receive the Winter Fuel Payment. Pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means tested benefits they are entitled to. £300 Pensioner Cost of Living PaymentĪll pensioner households will receive an extra £300 to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter. Payments from HMRC for those on Tax Credits only will follow shortly after each to ensure there are no duplicate payments. Department of Work and Pensions will make the payment in two lump sums – the first from July, the second in the autumn. This includes all households who receive Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit. More than 8 million households on means tested benefits will receive a payment of £650. £650 Cost of Living payment for those on benefits
It is GB-wide and we will deliver equivalent support to people in Northern Ireland. This support will apply directly for households in England, Scotland, and Wales. Households liable for Council Tax in Bands A-D in England will also receive a £150 Council Tax Rebate to help with the rising cost of bills, which has already started to be paid. This money will not need to be paid back. All domestic energy customers in Great Britain will receive a £400 grant to help with the cost of their energy bills through the Energy Bill Support Scheme. The Government is providing a £15 billion energy bill rebate package, worth up to £550 each for around 28 million households. Our overall support package includes: Help with energy bills The package will see millions of the most vulnerable households receive at least £1,200 of support in total this year to help with the cost of living, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400 to help with their bills. That’s why we are providing £37 billion of support this year, targeted at those who are most in need. The government understands that many people are worried about the impact of rising prices, with many of the most vulnerable households struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the basics.