PM Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are preparing a big cost-of-living giveaway for this week's Autumn Statement. While Thursday's economic package is expected to include tax rises and government cuts, a new round of payments for poor, disabled and pensioner Brits is also on the cards.
The government has been drawing up plans to repeat the £650, £150 and £300 payments targeted at the hard-up groups - but not the £400 that is going to all everyone, reports the Mirror. That would hand another £650 to 8.2 million households on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit, Tax Credits and Pension Credit.
Another £150 would go to about 6.3 million people on disability benefits including PIPs, while another £300 to more than eight million pensioner households who already receive a Winter Fuel Payment.
Some pensioner households would be in all three groups and would pocket £1,100 of support. The statement is also set to announce a minimum wage rise in April, with reports it could go up from £9.50 to £10.40 an hour.
But the Budget is also set to confirm the £2,500 cap on average energy bills will end in April, sending bills soaring by hundreds of pounds. Reports claim the Energy Price Guarantee will move from capping average bills at £2,500 to as much as £3,100 a year - nearly £2,000 higher than 2021.
Mr Hunt is rooting out £55bn of tax rises and spending cuts, including a council tax hike that will push the average bill to more than £2,000 a year. He is also expected to announce an £18.70 increase on the New State Pension, from £185.15 to £203.85.
