Across the UK, the cost-of-living crisis is continuing to bite, but some government support is on the way for a few households.
Up to £1,350 of support will be available to some households across 2023-2024, reports Birmingham Live. This was promised in the Chancellor's Autumn statement. At the time, Jeremy Hunt said: "I know these are tough times for families across the UK who are struggling to meet rising food and energy costs, driven by the aftershocks of Covid and Putin’s war in Ukraine.
"That’s why we’re putting a further £900 into the pockets of over eight million low-income households next year. These payments are on top of above-inflation increases to working-age benefits and the Energy Price Guarantee, which is insulating millions from even higher global gas prices."
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According to the government, the next £900 cost-of-living payment will go to people on means-tested benefits. This will then be delivered in three separate payments across the year.
Using the official data, this can then be mapped to see how many households will receive the money in your local area. More than eight million households nationwide will receive the payments. In Leeds there are around 78,900 eligible households for the fund.
They will need to have received an eligible benefit payment within a certain timeframe, which has not yet been announced. Leeds East is the area with the most to qualify for the fund, with 19,700 homes.
These payments will all be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards, the DWP said. There will also be a separate £150 for over six million disabled people and £300 for over eight million pensioners on top of their Winter Fuel Payments.
Some who get the £900 will get these other amounts as well if they also receive other benefits. Exact qualifying dates will be announced closer to the time, so there are no exact dates published by the Government yet.
The general payment periods will be as follows:
- £301 – First Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023 (for those on means-tested benefits)
- £150 – Disability Payment – during Summer 2023 (for those on disability benefits)
- £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023 (for those on means-tested benefits)
- £300 – Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4 (for pensioners who get the Winter Fuel Payment)
- £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024 (for those on means-tested benefits)
Means tested benefits are income based, dependent on your financial situation. The main means-tested benefits, which all qualify for the £900, are Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit (from HMRC) and Working Tax Credit (from HMRC).
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