Struggling households are entitled to government grants and benefits this month to help with the cost-of-living crisis. Food and energy have peaked at an all-time high over the past few months putting businesses and homes under huge financial pressure.
The cost of everyday essentials have gone up by £3,500 over the last three years, Labour has said. The party said official data shows that since December 2019, housing, fuel and power have gone up by £1,480, while food and non-alcoholic drinks have increased by £700.
And millions of UK households are to be hit with a stealth ‘broadband tax’, totalling over £377 million, as providers inflict up to a 14.4% price hike. The average household will now have to pay an extra £78 next year – £1,500 over the life of their service (7.5 years on average) – because of annual price hike clauses baked into consumer contracts.
READ MORE: DWP responds after £150 cost of living payment paid early with recipients confused
But there is some help available for eligible people in the form of benefits and grants. Below Birmingham Live has rounded up all of the new dates for the DWP cost of living payments:
Cost of Living Payment:
The government has announced when further Cost of Living Payments will be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024. If you are eligible - including if you're a pensioner or you get low-income or disability benefits - you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.
This includes if you’re found to be eligible for a Cost of Living Payment or a Disability Cost of Living Payment at a later date.
£900 in three instalments
A £900 sum paid in three parts of £301, £300 and £299 will be paid to those on Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Pension Credit.
It's only those specific benefit types that qualify - meaning those who are only in receipt of New Style Employment and Support Allowance, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, or New Style Jobseeker's Allowance will not be eligible. In addition, anyone whose Universal Credit was cut to zero during the qualifying period, because of high wages or an increase in savings, won't be eligible either.
Around 8.1 million households are set to get the sum, including 5.4 million on Universal Credit, 1.4 million on Pension Credit and 1.3 million on legacy DWP benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support. Nearly 800,000 families on benefits in the West Midlands are among the total who are entitled to the extra cash.
All three instalments will go into accounts during the new financial year, which starts on April 6. The first payment of £301 will be paid sometime during the spring, the second payment of £300 during autumn and the third payment of £299 in spring 2024.
£150 disability cost of living payment
A £150 payment for people on disability benefits will be paid during the summer of 2023. It will go to those who are receiving any of the following: Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Scottish disability payments, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or War Pension Mobility Supplement.
Six million disabled people are in line to receive this extra money, including 600,000 in the West Midlands. Qualifying periods and payment dates have not yet been announced. But it is expected to be sometime after summer starts on June 21 and before autumn starts on September 23.
£300 pensioner cost of living payment
Those who are in line to get the Winter Fuel Payment during winter 2023/2024 will get an extra £150 or £300 on top. This will be added to the usual Winter Fuel Payment when it's given out from November 2023.
Pensioners eligible for the next Winter Fuel Payment must have been born before September 24, 1957. The exact amount people will get depends on when they were born and what their circumstances are during the qualifying dates.
Letters will be sent out in October or November telling people how much Winter Fuel Payment they will receive if eligible.
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