As the cost of living crisis continues to rage on, belts will continue to be tightened as finances are strained over the next few weeks.
Energy bills are still at the highest level they have ever been and inflation is currently at 10.5% - way above the Bank of England target of 2%.
Meanwhile, interest rates are expected to be increased again next week - with analysts expecting a rise from 3.5% to 4%.
Even with this bleak outlook, there is a glimmer of hope for many as more state support is to going to continue to be delivered throughout February.
Mirror Money has compiled a full list of that support.
Energy discount payment
Once again, millions of households across the UK will receive a £67 discount on their monthly energy bill.
The scheme was announced by the former Chancellor and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year and gives households £400 off their energy bill until March.
The discount started in October last year and is being paid to consumers in instalments over six months, with the grants administered through energy suppliers.
If you pay your bills by direct debit you will receive the discount automatically – either as a deduction to your monthly payments or as a refund to your bank account.
The discount is provided monthly, regardless of whether you pay bills monthly or quarterly or have an associated payment card.
It breaks down into instalments of £66 in October and November 2022 and to £67 per month from December until March 2023. The next one will be paid in February.
If your energy bills are on receipt of an invoice, you will see the discount applied as credit to your energy account every month.
Smart prepayment meter customers will also receive the discount automatically and prepay customers are sent discount vouchers by text, email or post that they will need to redeem.
This scheme has not been extended like other cost of living support and will come to an end in March, so from April you will have to pay your energy bill in full.
Cold Weather Payment scheme
This scheme opened in November and will continue to run until March 31 of this year.
If you're eligible, you will get £25 for each seven-day period when temperatures drop below zero degrees in your area.
To get this money you must be claiming one of six types of benefits, these include:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
- Universal Credit (if you are not employed or self-employed, and you have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or you have a child under five living with you)
- Support for Mortgage Interest (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)
The payment should be made automatically within 14 working days, and you can receive multiple Cold Weather Payments if there are several spells of freezing weather.
You can check if you're due a payment by searching you postcode in the Government's online checker tool.
It must be noted that Cold Weather Payments are not available in Scotland any more, instead, you might be able to claim an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment.
Warm Home Discount scheme
This is a Government-backed scheme to help reduce costs if you’re on low income, getting certain benefits and struggling to pay your electricity or gas bills.
The Warm Home Discount will give you £150 off your electricity bill between October 2022 and March 2023, if you qualify but the money is not paid to your bank account.
Instead, a discount is paid directly into your energy account, by your supplier and if you are on a prepay meter, you're usually sent a top-up voucher.
You could get also money off your gas bill if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity, this is known as a dual fuel tariff.
You might be able to get a Warm Home discount if you fall into one of two core groups in England and Wales.
- Core group 1. If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
- Core group 2. If you’re on a low income, and getting certain means-tested benefit
In Scotland, these groups are called the "Core Group" and the "Broader Group".
For this year's payment, the qualifying date was August 21, 2022.