Brits on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit will see £326 hitting their bank accounts from next month. It will be the first half of a £650 cost of living payment which has been introduced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
The payment aims to help low-income families deal with the staggering cost of living crisis. It is also hoped that the payment will help with rising energy bills.
Those that are eligible will see the first half of the £650 payment in their banks from next month however it is not clear exactly when everyone eligible will get their payment.
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The second payment, of £324, will be paid to eligible families in the autumn. Again, it is not clear exactly when this second payment will land for each household that is eligible, the Mirror reports.
Energy bills are expected to hit £2,800 in October and this is on top of a 54 percent increase that has already happened. As a result, many individuals and families are left struggling to pay their bills, with some even choosing to cut back on food as a way to halve their expenses.
But it is not just those on Universal Credit that are eligible for the £650 additional payment, as it is going out to all those who claim mean-tested benefits.
These benefits include:
- Child Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
It is expected that most people will be paid by July 31, but there is no exact date being given for when the payment will land. The second payment will arrive in bank accounts at some point during the autumn months.
Those who claim tax credits will receive their first payment slightly later, with this not expected to be processed until the autumn, with a second payment to follow in winter.
The payments are being issued automatically to eligible households. They are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.
I'm not eligible for the £650 - what help can I get?
The Chancellor announced more assistance with the rising cost of living than just the £650 for eligible households. Every single home in England, Scotland and Wales will receive £400 off of their energy bills and this will be an automatic deduction that is spread out over six months, beginning in October.
People in receipt of disability benefits will also be given £150, while pensioners will be awarded £300 if they are in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments. The Household Support Fund has also been extended again by another £500million.
Some of the help that is offered through the Household Support Fund includes money towards your bills and supermarket vouchers. However, the support does vary between councils - as well as the eligibility criteria - which means you face a postcode lottery in terms of the help available to you.
Speak to your local authority to see how it is distributing the cash.
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