Household costs
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Household Support Fund
The Department for Work and Pensions has provided funding to local authorities to provide help to residents who are struggling to afford energy, food and other essential bills. The scheme will operate until 31 March 2024.
Cost of Living Payments
Households on means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive further Cost of Living Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions. Payments will be made automatically in spring 2023 (£301), autumn 2023 (£300) and spring 2024 (£299).
Disability Cost of Living Payment
Residents in receipt of certain disability benefits will receive an automatic one-off £150 payment in summer 2023. The payment helps disabled people with the rising cost of living acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as care and mobility needs. This payment is in addition to other Cost of Living Payments.
Check if you're eligible for the Disability Cost of Living Payment
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
In the winter months pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills.
A one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment during winter 2023 to 2024.
Check if you're eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment
£400 Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS)
This automatic, non-repayable discount will be applied by your electricity supplier in six instalments between October 2022 and March 2023 to help households through winter. If you have a traditional pre-payment meter you should receive six vouchers instead. There is no need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) scheme will provide a £400 payment to households who are responsible for energy costs but do not have a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier and have not been received the above payment. This scheme is open until 31 May 2023.
£200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP)
Household which are not connected to the mains gas grid and use alternative fuels as their main form of heating will be eligible for a £200 Alternative Fuels Payment. Alternative fuels are bottled gas, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), oil, wood or solid fuels. Most homes that are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023.
If you do not automatically get this payment then you may apply to the AFP Alternative Funding scheme. Applications for this scheme will open in March 2023.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme reopened again in November. Under it, you could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2022 to 2023.
The money is not paid to you - it's a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October 2022 and March 2023.
You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you're eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.
The discount won't affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.
Discounted broadband
'Social tariffs' are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Eligibility varies with each provider.
Find out more information on moneysavingexpert.com and www.ofcom.org.uk
Help for Households
Find more information at gov.uk/helpforhouseholds, a government campaign which brings together over 40 support schemes that residents may be able to access depending on eligibility.
Additionally, a range of online tools will help you quickly and efficiently check the support you might be eligible for and how to access it.
