Cost of Living Help

This briefing includes information on:

  • Government cost of living payments for 2022
  • Government cost of living payments for 2023/2024
  • Cold Weather Payments
  • Household Support Fund
  • Help with certain disability related costs
  • Details of wider types of general support for disabled people
  • Benefit calculators
  • Information on the different general types of cost of living support
  • Free telephone and email advice and support
  • Details of independent advice organisations across the UK

 

Contents

Government cost of living payments for 2022

Government cost of living payments for 2023/2024

Other cost of living help

Cold Weather Payments

Household Support Fund

Other help with the cost of living information resources

Help with certain disability related costs

Details of wider types of general support for disabled people

Information on the different general types of cost of living support

Free telephone and email advice and support

Details of independent advice organisations across the UK

 

Government cost of living payments for 2022

The Government’s 2022 support cost of living support payments were automatically made to those who qualified and have now all been paid.

However, those who believe they should have got an award but didn’t receive on can use this form to report a missing 2022 cost of living payment

BACK TO START

 

Government cost of living payments for 2023/2024

Claimants will get up to £1,350 in cost of living payments in 2023/2024, with the timetable for payments now announced by the government.

Over 8 million claimants will get £900 in three payments, whilst 6 million disability benefit will get an additional £150 and 8 million pensioners will get £300 in addition to their winter fuel payments.

For 2023/2024, the DWP has said that a new £900 “cash boost” will be paid as before to eligible means-tested benefits claimants, including those on:

  • universal credit
  • income-based jobseeker’s allowance
  • income-related employment and support allowance
  • income support
  • pension credit
  • child tax credit
  • working tax credit

Payments will start in Spring 2023 and  will go direct to bank accounts in three payments over the course of the financial year.

There will also be a separate £150 to disabled people who receive:

  • disability living allowance,
  • personal independence payment,
  • attendance allowance,
  • Scottish disability benefits,
  • armed forces independence payment,
  • constant attendance allowance
  • war pension mobility supplement

In addition, £300 will be given to pensioners on top of their Winter Fuel Payments.

These payments will all be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

While exact payment dates will be announced closer to the time, they will be “spread across a longer period to ensure a consistent support offering throughout the year”.

They will be broadly as follows:

  • £301 – First Cost of Living Payment – will be made from 25 April 2023
  • £150 – Disability Payment – during Summer 2023
  • £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
  • £300 – Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4
  • £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024

In addition the following payments made at the same amount as 2022:

  • £150 – Disability Cost of Living Payment – during Summer 2023
  • £300 – Pensioner Cost of Living Payment – during Winter 2023/4

Those eligible for the new payments should not have to apply as they will be paid automatically by the DWP.

BACK TO START

 

Other cost of living help

Cold Weather Payments

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.

You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.

You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

The Cold Weather Payment scheme runs from 1 November 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Check if you can get a payment in your area.

BACK TO START

 

Household Support Fund

Help with essential costs may be available from your local council.

This could help if you’re struggling to afford things like:

  • energy and water bills
  • food
  • essential items

You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

Authorities should consider providing support to disabled people in their area.

Disabled people in particular may be facing acute challenges due to the disproportionate impact that rising costs bring for the additional services they need in order to manage their conditions, remain independent and avoid becoming socially isolated.

For example, some disabled people may have increased utility bills due to the usage of equipment, aids or adaptations associated with their disability.

They may also have additional heating, water or transport costs. Authorities are therefore encouraged to explore ways in which this group may be supported and must record the total value of awards granted to disabled people

If you get benefits, they will not be affected if you get a payment from a Household Support Fund scheme.

For more information see Get help with the cost of living from your local council available from gov.uk.

BACK TO START

 

Other help with the cost of living information resources

Help with certain disability related costs:

If you use an oxygen machine as part of your home oxygen therapy, Baywater Healthcare, on behalf of the NHS, will refund you for any electricity your machine uses.

Non-Residential Charges: Paying towards the cost of your care and support at home available from disabilityrightsuk.org.

Household gadgets and equipment to make life easier available from nhs.uk.

Household Support Fund grants available from gov.uk.

BACK TO START

 

Details of wider types of general support for disabled people:

What you can claim available from disabilityrightsuk.org

Type of benefits you can claim available from disabilityrightsuk.org

Help for Households available from gov.uk

Benefits calculator available from disabilityrightsuk.org

BACK TO START

 

Information on the different general types of cost of living support:

Debt advice services available from turn2us.org.uk.

Getting extra support from your energy supplier available from citizensadvice.org.uk.

Stop your energy supplier moving you to prepayment meter

available from citizensadvice.org.uk.

Financial support with energy and water bills available from turn2us.org.uk.

Help with gas and electricity bills available from scope.org.uk.

Report a missing Cost of Living Payment available from gov.uk.

BACK TO START

 

Free telephone and email advice and support:

Scope's helpline for disabled people and their families: 

Phone: 0808 800 3333

Email: helpline@scope.org.uk

 

Details of independent advice organisations across the UK: 

Find a local independent advice agency available from advicelocal.uk

BACK TO START

Benefits Money