The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that the payments for the second part of the £650 means-tested cost of living support will be made to more than eight million households from November 8 to 23. The one-off lump sum is for £324 and will be paid to those on certain DWP benefits only.
People claiming Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits - with no other means-tested benefit - will receive the money between November 23 and 30. Nobody needs to apply for these payments as they will be made automatically if you are eligible and meet the requirements of the qualifying period.
But these aren’t the only financial support payments due between now and Christmas and it’s important for everyone to be aware of what they are and when they are due so that if they need to apply, they can do it now and not miss out on cash that could help with the cost of living during the colder months.
There are several other payments on the way for families on a low income, unpaid carers, everyone with a domestic electricity connection and a heating bill discount for the most vulnerable and those on certain means-tested benefits.
Below is a quick guide on what to expect each month, including the £400 energy rebate which is being paid at £66/£67 monthly until March, 2023.
November
£150 Warm Home Discount Scheme
The scheme officially opens on November 14, 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 eligibility rules have changed for this year and even if you automatically qualified in the past, you may need to make a claim this year - find out more here.
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 currently open to Scots households with British Gas, Scottish Gas, EDF, Octopus Energy and Shell.
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.
£324 cost of living payment - DWP benefits
The second instalment of the £650 means-tested cost of living payment - £324 - will be made to those on DWP benefits between November 8th and 23rd. DWP has said a small number of payments will be made on November 8th with the majority arriving during the two-week payment window.
People only claiming Tax Credits will receive their payment for £324 shortly after the payment window closes, but no specific date has been given yet.
For full details on eligible benefits and qualifying dates - read more here.
£300 pensioner cost of living payment / Winter Fuel Payments
In total, these combined payments are worth up to £600 in heating bill help.
The £300 one-off payment is being added to the annual Winter Fuel Payment which will arrive in November and December for eligible pensioner households - no specific payment windows have been given.
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 instalment of the UK Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme should be paid by the end of the month - read the full guide on payments here.
If you live in a park home, canal boat or have a tenancy agreement which includes energy bills the UK Government has said it will pay the £400 by the end of the year - read more here.
Scottish Child Payment increases to £25 per week
From November 14, the Scottish Child Payment will increase from £20 to £25 and the eligibility will widen to include children up to the age of 16.
Payments will automatically increase for existing claimants and backdated to the point of application for new claims.
Current processing time is 31 working days, so making a new claim on November 14 should see first payments arrive in early January - find out more here.
£214 Child Winter Heating Assistance
Child Winter Heating Assistance is an annual payment of £214 for youngsters in Scotland on disability benefits to help with increased costs over the colder months.
The money is paid once a year 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.
Payments started arriving at the end of October an will continue through November.
Qualifying benefits:
- 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.
£324 cost of living payment - Tax Credits claimants
HMRC recently confirmed that the payment of £324 will be paid to people in receipt of Working Tax Credits or Child tax Credit only from November 23 until November 30.
They said the payments are arriving after the DWP cost of living payment to avoid duplication.
December
£300 pensioner cost of living payment / Winter Fuel Payments
See November for details, these payments worth up to £600 in total will be made over November and December. All payments should arrive no later than January 13, 2023.
£10 Christmas bonus from DWP
This is a one-off, tax-free £10 payment automatically made to people in receipt of State Pension or 20 DWP benefits if they meet the eligibility during a specific qualifying period, which is typically the first full week of December.
Qualifying benefits:
- 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
Find out more about the £10 DWP bonus here.
£245 Carer’s Allowance Supplement
This one-off payment for £245.70 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 round about the same time this year too.
Find out more about Carer's Allowance here.
£260 Bridging Payments for families in Scotland
All 32 local councils are delivering payments of £260 on behalf of the Scottish Government ahead of the Schools stopping for the Christmas holidays to 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. This is the amount that will be paid until the end of March when the scheme ends.
February 2023
£50 Winter Heating Payment
£25 Cold Weather Payments are set to be replaced by a new devolved benefit this winter for people living in Scotland. The Scottish Government will introduce the new Winter Heating Payment from February 2023 which will give around 400,000 households on a low income a guaranteed £50 payment towards their energy bills.
Find out more about the new payment here.
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