A whole host of cost of living payments have been dominating society's conversation when they were first announced in May by the former Chancellor, Rishi Sunak.
Since then, the three types of payments that are worth more than £37 billion in UK Government support, have been paid out to help those on low income, people claiming disability benefits, and those over State Pension age. The Daily Record reports that over 20 million payments are due to be made by the end of 2022.
These payments will follow the eight million that was made in July to those claiming the £650 cost of living payment, the first half worth £326. This payment was made to those claiming eligible Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits and was also paid at the start of September to Tax Credits-only claimants.
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Around six million people claiming disability benefits also received the £150 one-off payment in September. Also, a further eight million pensioners will receive a £300 one-off payment on top of their annual Winter Fuel Payments over the coming months.
Cost of living payments aren’t the only ones being made between now and the end of the year. However, there are several others being made between now and December to families on low income, unpaid carers, and those with a domestic electricity connection.
Listed below is all the one-off payments, lump sums and other benefits people will get before the end of the year. It includes the £400 energy rebate which is being paid over six months.
October
£66 energy discount
The first installment of this Energy Bills Support Scheme by the UK Government should be paid by the end of October. The process for the money being paid differs for each payment method, and is as follows:
- Direct Debit customers - will receive the discount automatically as a reduction to the monthly Direct Debit amount collected, or as a refund to their bank account following Direct Debit collection during each month of delivery
- Standard credit customers and payment card customers - the discount will be automatically applied as a credit to standard credit customers’ accounts in the first week of each month of delivery, with the credit appearing as it would if the customer had made a payment
- Smart prepayment meter customers - will see the discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each month of delivery
- Traditional prepayment meter customers - will be provided with redeemable vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) in the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post. Customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point.
£130 Bridging Payments for families in Scotland
All 32 local councils in Scotland are delivering payments of at least £130 to children in receipt of free school meals. This is on behalf of the Scottish Government, ahead of the October school holidays.
Most payments are expected to be made by Monday, October 17. Applications can still be made with payments arriving once these have been processed.
For a full list of Bridging Payments, read more here.
£150 Warm Home Discount Scheme
The scheme officially opens in November, but some suppliers are taking applications now. The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill made directly to your supplier, between October 2022 and March 2023.
The list of energy suppliers participating in the winter 2022/23 Warm Home Discount scheme has not been updated on GOV.UK yet, but the £150 discount is automatically made to those on a low income or qualifying benefit.
If you live in Scotland, you qualify if you either:
- get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
- are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
Full details on eligibility are available on GOV.UK here.
November
£324 cost of living payment - DWP benefits
The second payment of the cost of living cash boost is due in November, so the rest of the £650 one-off lump sum - £324 - will be sent to bank accounts next month. The money will be paid between November 8 and November 23.
DWP has said a small number of payments will be made on November 8th with the majority arriving during the two-week payment window. Those claiming just Tax Credits will receive the payment shortly after this time, but no day has been confirmed yet.
For full details on eligible benefits and qualifying dates, read more here.
£300 pensioner cost of living / Winter Fuel payments
This payment made for elderly people will end up being worth up to £600 in heating help. The £300 one-off payment is being added to the annual Winter Fuel Payment which will arrive in November and December for eligible households.
However, no specific time windows for payments has been confirmed. 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 - read the full payment guide here.
£66 energy discount
The second installment of the UK Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme should be paid by the end of November.
Scottish Child Payment increases to £25 weekly
The Scottish Child Payment will increase from £20 to £25 from November 14 onwards. Eligibility will also widen to children aged up to 16 years old.
Payments will automatically increase for existing claimants and backdated to the point of application for new claims. The current processing time for claims is up to 31 days, so making a new claim on November 14 would see the first £25 arrive in January 2023.
£214 Child Winter Heating Assistance
Child Winter Heating Assistance is an annual payment of £214 for youngsters in Scotland on disability benefits. This payment has been made to help with increased costs over the colder months.
This benefit is paid once annually, and the Scottish Government has confirmed that the payment for winter 2022/23 will be £214.10 per eligible child or young person. Children and young people in Scotland can get the heating assistance payment if they are under 19 years old and in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits between September 19 and September 25.
There is no date this money will be paid into banks specifically, but it should arrive by the end of November. Qualifying benefits include:
- Child Disability Payment - highest rate of the care component
- Disability Living Allowance for children - highest rate of the care component
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - enhanced daily living component
- Adult Disability Payment - enhanced rate of the daily living component
Find out more about Child Winter Heating Assistance here.
December
£300 pensioner cost of living payment / Winter Fuel Payments
This payment was first made in November, and the second half will arrive by December. All payments should arrive no later than January 13, 2023.
£10 Christmas bonus from the DWP
This one-off payment has been given by the DWP automatically to those who are in receipt of State Pension or 20 other DWP benefits listed below. This money is only given if the person meets the qualifying week period, which is typically the first full week of December.
Qualifying benefits include:
- 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
£245 Carer's Allowance Supplement
This payment is only for unpaid carers in Scotland who were in receipt of Carer’s Allowance on October 10, 2022 - the December qualifying date. No specific date has been given yet, but last year’s payments were made on December 15, so it may be approximately the same time in 2022 as well.
Find out more about Carer's Allowance here.
£260 Bridging Payments for families in Scotland
All 32 local councils in Scotland are delivering payments of £260 on behalf of the Scottish Government. This will be ahead of the schools stopping for the Christmas holidays, for children in receipt of free school meals.
Most payments are expected to be made before December 23. Find out more about Bridging Payments and how to get them, here.
£67 energy discount
The third instalment of the UK Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme increases to £67 and should be paid by the end of the month.
February 2023
£50 Winter Heating Payment
The £25 Cold Weather Payments are set to be cancelled out this winter and replaced by a new devolved benefit this winter for people living in Scotland. The Scottish Government will introduce a new Winter Heating Payment from February 2023.
This benefit will impact up to 400,000 low-income households, who are set to get a guaranteed £50 payment towards their energy bills. Find out more about the new payment here.
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