It is recognised that many are struggling to make ends meet as we combat the cost of living crisis brought on my soaring energy prices following Russia’s war on Ukraine and rising inflation as we deal with post pandemic and war-initiated supply shortages. Therefore the extra payments the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is making will provide at least some relief. Before the turn of the year, there are several cash boosts that millions will receive. Many are for people on benefits, but some will be given to the majority of households in the UK.
See below all the payments people will receive before 2023.
October to March: £400 energy bill rebate
Every household in the UK will receive a total £400 discount on their energy bill between October 2022 and March 2023. In October and November, £66 will be taken off energy bills while in December, January, February, and March, £67 will be knocked off. The non-repayable discount is applied automatically to consumers’ energy bills. See more details on the design and delivery of the Energy Bills Support Scheme on GOV.UK, including how support is delivered to customers who pay for energy as part of all-inclusive bills.
November: Winter Fuel Payment plus £300 Pensioner Cost of Living payment
In total, these combined payments are worth up to £600 in heating bill help for some people. The £300 one-off payment is being added to the annual Winter Fuel Payment which will arrive before January 13, 2023 - no specific payment windows have been given. It is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits. However, the full amount you will get for winter 2022 to 2023 depends on your household circumstances. This payment will be made alongside any other cost of living payment, benefit, or tax credits.
Depending on your unique circumstances, you can receive up to the following:
Born Between September 26, 1942, and September 25, 1956
- You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) - £500
- You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies - £250
- You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies - £250
- You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits - £500
- You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits - £500
- You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits - £250
Born on or before 25 September 1942
- You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) - £600
-
You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies - £350
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You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies - £300
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You qualify and live with a partner who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits - £600
-
You qualify and live with someone (not your partner) who qualifies, and either of you gets certain benefits - £600
-
You qualify, live in a care home and do not get certain benefits - £300
According to the government, most payments are made automatically in November or December, and all payments should have been made by 13 January 2023.
November: Warm Home Discount Scheme
You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2022 to 2023 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October 2022 and March 2023. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.
If you live in England, you qualify if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- are on a low income and have high energy costs
Full details on eligibility are available on GOV.UK.
First week of December: DWP Christmas bonus
Millions of benefit claimants are set to get a " Christmas Bonus" from this week, worth £10. The one-off payment is tax free and is handed out to those who are eligible for it automatically. Those who qualify include people on State Pension or 20 DWP benefits during a specific qualifying period, which is typically the first full week of December.
Qualifying benefits:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (once the main phase of the benefit is entered after the first 13 weeks of claim)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate
- Industrial Death Benefit (for widows or widowers)
- Mobility Supplement
- Pension Credit - the guarantee element
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- State Pension (including Graduated Retirement Benefit)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (transitionally protected)
- Unemployability Supplement or Allowance (paid under Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes)
- War Disablement Pension at State Pension age
- War Widow’s Pension
- Widowed Mother’s Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- Widow’s Pension
The payment window for the second part of the £650 cost of living payment closed on November 30. If you are still waiting on yours, do not worry, payments are still being made to everyone who is eligible. You can report a missing payment online at GOV.UK.
Thanks to Richard Castle’s excellent summary at
https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/dwp-payments-millio…
Other information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-the-energy-bills-support-scheme-dis…
https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/low-income
https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/education-employment-and-money…