Millions of pounds have been given to eligible households in the past year to combat soaring living costs. With inflation sky-high and many struggling to afford higher supermarket prices and energy bills the UK Government has rolled out several cost of living payments aimed at helping those hardest hit.
Payments were given last year to those on benefits, people with disabilities, and pensioners while all households are currently receiving a £400 discount off their energy bills spread over six months. But with costs still high in 2023 further financial support – including a £900 payment for those on benefits, £150 for those with disabilities and other payments – is coming soon with some landing as early as this spring.
Here are all the cost of living payments and benefits coming in March and April. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox sign up here.
Read more: DWP benefits, minimum wage and energy prices: All the big money changes to look out for in 2023
Final discount off energy bills - March
The government's £400 discount off energy bills, which is spread over six months, ends in March having been given each month since October. The money has been given in instalments to those who pay by direct debit or traditional prepayment either through discounts by your energy company, vouchers, or top-ups to your account. You will get the discount at the usual time in March as you have in past months depending on your supplier and when you pay your bills.
State benefits and pensions - March and April
The following payments will go out directly on their usual dates this March with no public holidays forthcoming to complicate the process:
- Universal credit
- State pension
- Pension credit
- Disability living allowance
- Personal independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Employment support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
However Easter falling in April could mean changes to your usual payment dates. Good Friday on April 7 and Easter Monday on April 10 means that you may get your benefits earlier if you are due to get them on those dates. This has yet to be confirmed by the DWP but that is what usually happens on bank holidays. For more information on how and when state benefits are paid go to the government’s website.
£301 cost of living payment - spring
The DWP is also set to deliver its first instalment of a £900 cost of living payment that's coming between now and next year beginning with a £301 payment to eight million households on means-tested benefits. It has not been confirmed that this will be sent out in March or April but the government has said it will come in spring so it is very likely that eligible households will get the money in the coming months. You can find out more about whether you qualify for those payments here.
Cold weather payments - until March 31
March also sees the final date for cold weather payments. If the temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days you are able to get a cold weather payment. For each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31 you get £25 with the scheme running from November 1 to March 31. People will automatically receive £25 if this happens and they claim the following benefits:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal credit
- Support for mortgage interest
While temperatures have reached 0°C in some areas in December and January whether you will get a payment between now and the end of March depends on the specific temperatures as the mercury has to drop to zero or below for those seven consecutive days to trigger the payment. If the temperature is below freezing for just one day, or even for six consecutive days, and then rises the clock will reset to zero and the counting will start again. You can find out more about the scheme here.
Warm home discount - until March 31
Another scheme which finishes at the end of March is the warm home discount scheme, which is being given to eligible households between October 2022 and March 2023 as a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill – but you may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if it's with the same supplier. Prepay and pay-as-you-go customers will get the payment in another way such as a voucher. The money is being paid to those claiming pension credit, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, universal credit, housing benefit, or child tax credits and working tax credits. However the scheme finishes for good on March 31 so you won't be eligible for the money after then.
Increases to council tax and housing benefit support - April 1
New rates and allowances for housing benefit where rent is paid monthly and council tax support are timed to coincide with the new council tax year and the week in which many rents change.
Benefits rate and state pension uplift - April 10
The DWP has confirmed it will increase benefits in line with the consumer price index (CPI) from April 2023. Announced in chancellor Jeremy Hunt's autumn statement on November 17 it means benefits will be increased in line with CPI of 10.1% which is taken from the figure from September. This includes the likes of working tax credit, child benefit, child tax credit, universal credit, attendance allowance, and PIP. The government is also reinstating the pension triple lock meaning benefits will also rise with inflation on this date.
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