Cost of living payments and other forms of extra help will be paid throughout next year - and those eligible for everything could be receiving more than £2,000 worth of payments.
Certain benefit claimants, pensioners, and those with disabilities will each receive a payment which aims to help soften the blow of high energy bills, food costs and other necessities.
Some of next year’s support is a continuation of measures which were announced this year however some are brand new with specific details yet to be shared.
The exact amount available to you will depend entirely on your individual circumstances and some households could receive more than others.
There are also annual schemes that will run to help you with energy bills.
Cost of living payment - £900
More than eight million households will get a £900 Cost of Living Payment boost in the next financial year.
The payment is similar to the £650 Cost of Living payments made in 2022 and will go to households claiming means-tested benefits and Universal Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HMRC.
They include those receiving: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
For the previous payments, you had to be entitled or later found to be entitled to one of these benefits by a certain date.
It is not known yet exactly how the 2023 Cost of Living Payments will be divided, but they will definitely be paid in instalments throughout the year.
Pensioner cost of living payment - £300
The current Pensioner Cost of Living payment of up to £300 is being given to all pensioners who normally get the Winter Fuel Payment.
Jeremy Hunt confirmed in his Autumn Statement that another one-off £300 payment will be given out in April however the details for this second payment have not been confirmed by the Government.
More details on the criteria for the payment will likely be announced next year.
You can find more information about the separate Winter Fuel Payment below.
Disability cost of living payment - £150
This year people with disabilities received a £150 payment to help with living costs, and the Chancellor announced that a second payment of £150 will be given again next year.
Again, the criteria for the payment has not been announced but for the first disability cost of living payment, you had to be claiming a certain disability benefit in order to be eligible.
This included benefits like Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or War Pension Mobility Supplement.
Energy bill discount - £201
The £400 energy bill discount, which was introduced in October this year, will continue until March 2023.
All households in the UK will see their energy bill for January, February and March reduced by £67 with energy suppliers applying the discount to your monthly bill if you are paying by direct debit.
If you're on a credit meter or smart prepayment meter the discount will come off your bills or be credited to your account automatically.
However, if you have a traditional prepayment meter, you will receive the discount through a voucher which will then have to be redeemed at their local top-up point within three months of receiving it.
Cold Weather Payments - £25
Cold Weather payments, worth £25, are made when the temperature in your area is forecasted to, or drops below zero degrees for seven consecutive days between November and March.
The payment is made automatically to those claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Income support, or Pension Credit.
December has already triggered Cold weather payments across hundreds of postcodes in England and Wales and thousands will have already received several £25 payments.
If the UK sees another cold snap in the first few months of 2023, then people could see further payments in their bank accounts.
Warm Home Discount - £150
The Warm Home Discount scheme for winter 2022/23 is worth £150 for eligible households.
It runs every year, although the exact rates for 2023/24 have not yet been announced by the Government.
Certain pensioners and those on a low income receiving certain benefits will qualify for Warm Home Discount.
It is paid directly into your energy account, by your supplier, instead of cash directly into your bank account.
If you're on a prepay meter, you'll usually be sent a top-up voucher.
You should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, receive the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit.
You may also be able to claim the Warm Home Discount if you are on a low income, claiming certain benefits and have high energy costs.
The qualifying means-tested benefits are:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- "Savings Credit" part of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Winter Fuel Payment - £300
Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 are expected to be dished out again - and as we've mentioned above, this means you'll be eligible for the pensioner cost of living payment as well.
This means you could potentially get up to £600.
Winter Fuel Payments are normally worth between £100 and £300 - depending on your age, who you live with and if you claim benefits.
You could be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 26, 1956.
You normally need to have lived in the UK for at least one day in the qualifying week - between 19 to 25 September 2022.
