UK households handed Cost of Living payments worth £2,685 before Christmas

UK households handed Cost of Living payments worth £2,685 before Christmas
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Six cost of living payments are coming before Christmas – and they’re worth up to £2,685. At a time where the energy price cap from Ofgem, the regulator, is rising, benefits claimants and UK households can capitalise on SIX payments.

One of the six payments is the much-talked about Winter Fuel Payment. The subject of much controversy after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) criteria shake-up from the new Labour Party government, people who are eligible can claim £300.

To claim by post, you'll need to fill in the winter fuel payment claim form and post it to the Winter Fuel Payment Centre. This will be available at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim from September 30. Payments will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.

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That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances. But if you fall short of the criteria, don't fear: because there are five other ways you can help tide yourself and your family over as we approach the festive season...

Energy grants - £1,700

The British Gas Energy Trust Individual and Families Fund is open to everyone, not just the company’s customers. To qualify, you need to have between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt with your supplier. In June, British Gas also launched a £15million "You Pay: We Pay" initiative which sees it match 100% of a customer’s energy debt repayments to help them clear their arrears faster.

EDF has a customer support fund which on average wipes £1,250 off customers' bills. If you’re struggling with debt its difficult to know where to turn. The British Gas Energy Trust would encourage you to contact your local Money Advice Agency for help before applying for a grant. If you get advice, this will help your chances of a successful grant application.

he fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers.

Household Support Fund - £600

Some councils are offering as much as £600. The Household Support Fund is a government fund that offers eligible households support with fuel, food and other essentials. Liverpool City Council explains: "The government has announced a further extension to the Household Support Fund from 1st October 2024 to 31st March 2025. We are currently working through our proposal and awaiting guidance as to how the funding can be allocated."

If you do not fall into any of the eligible groups, you can still apply for support to the Liverpool Citizens Support Scheme for assistance which has been partly funded by the Household Support Fund or visit the government's cost of living hub for other help available..

Winter Fuel Payment - £300

The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80. If you're in a care home, and you're eligible, you'll get either £100 or £150 if you're over the age 80. To get the Winter Fuel Payment this year if you live in England or Wales, you must have been born before September 23, 1958, and claiming one of the following benefits between September 16 and September 22, 2024:

  • Income Support

  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Pension Credit

  • Universal Credit

You also need to have lived in the UK - although in some cases you can claim if you’ve moved abroad - for at least one day for the "qualifying week" which changes every year. This is normally the week beginning from the third Monday in September.

Prepayment vouchers - £50

You can get temporary credit from your supplier, but you will have to pay this back. In many cases, suppliers offer around £10 to £20 if you run out and can't top up straight away to ensure that you don't go without heat or lights.

When you do top-up, this amount will be deducted. If you've run out of gas or electricity, your energy supplier should give you temporary credit if you can't top up, for example because:

  • you can't afford it

  • you're having problems topping up

Your supplier might add the temporary credit to your meter automatically - if they don’t, you should ask for it as soon as you can. You can check your supplier’s website to find out how to get temporary credit.

Cold Weather Payments - £25

Cold Weather Payments are worth £25 and are awarded when the average temperature where you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. It is possible to get multiple payments, if you go through several spells of freezing weather.

The scheme normally opens in November and runs until the end of March, covering the winter period.

Christmas Bonus - £10

The DWP pays a Christmas bonus worth £10 to people claiming certain benefits every December. This is expected to happen again in December 2024.