Cost of Living Support May 2022
The Government have announced some additional payments to help towards the cost of living, as well as the Council Tax Energy Rebate will provide a payment of £150 to households living in council tax bands A – D.
Cost of living support factsheet: 26 May 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
All payments except those awarded through the Household Support Fund will be paid automatically. The SLH Income team will be helping individuals to access that fund in due course, once the eligibility criteria are released. Here is an overview of the support that will be available:
-
A non-repayable £400 grant for all households to help with rising energy bills.
-
A one-off payment of £650 for those on certain means-tested benefits.
-
A one-off £300 top-up for pensioners who receive winter fuel payments.
-
A one-off £150 payment for those on certain non-means-tested disability benefits.
-
An extra £500 million to be paid into the ‘Household Support Fund’.
Depending on circumstances some households may qualify for all four payments, meaning that they could be paid up to £1,500 in total
The £400 Grant
All households in England, Scotland and Wales connected to the electricity mains will get a non-repayable grant to help towards the cost of energy bills from October.
This £400 payment will not be paid as a lump sum but instead spread over six months
Direct debit and credit meter users will have the money credited to their account, while those with prepayment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher.
The £650 payment
Households across the UK on the following means-tested benefits will receive a payment of £650.
- Child tax credit
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income support
- Pension credit
- Universal credit
- Working tax credit
The payments will be split with the first half paid from July and the second from some time in the autumn. The payments will go directly into the account the recipient receives their benefits into.
To qualify for the first payment the recipient will already need to be receiving a qualifying benefit (or have begun a claim for benefit as of 25 May 2022, which is later awarded)
The £300 top up
A £300 ‘pensioner cost of living payment’ top-up will be paid in November or December to households that get the winter fuel payment. Recipients will qualify for this payment if they’re over state pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19 and 25 September 2022, and as long as they meet certain other requirements.
The one-off £150 payment
People on certain disability benefits (see the list below) will receive a one-off payment of £150 in September. Again, this will be paid straight into the account the recipient currently receives their benefits into. It is designed to help towards the cost of specialist equipment, food and transport costs.
To qualify, the recipient must be receiving one of the following benefits (or have begun an eventually successful claim for one, as of 25 May 2022):
- Armed forces independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Disability living allowance
- Personal independence payment
- Scottish disability benefits
- War pensioners’ mobility supplement
The extra £500 million
An extra £500 million will go into the ‘Household Support Fund’, which will also be extended from this October to March 2023. The scheme is designed to help those in need with payments towards the rising cost of household bills.
As with the original £500 million, Local Authorities will be allocating the funding and therefore SLH will be helping to ensure that our tenants are aware of what is being made available and where appropriate how they can access it.
If you’re worried about your finances, there is help available. Remember, the sooner you take control, the better – don’t ignore the problem.
SLH have a knowledgeable Income Team who can provide you with advice, support and can signpost you to help available.
We are here to help so don’t delay getting in touch.
0300 303 8540
customerservices@southlakeshousing.co.uk
< Back to News
