Cost of Living Support - Cost of living support FAQs

Cost of living support 2023/2024

Below is a question and answer covering 2023/2024.

Will there be cost of living support for 2023/2024?

Yes. The government has announced the cost of living payment of £900 for 2023/2024. This will be paid in three instalments across the year. We don’t know exact payments dates and eligibility criteria yet. They will be announced by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).  

Cost of living support for 2022

Below are questions and answers from 2022.

How do I tell if I was getting Universal Credit on the right date to qualify for the £650 payment?

The first instalment of the £650 payment was paid if you were getting Universal Credit in an assessment period that ended between 26 April and 25 May 2022.

The second instalment of the £650 payment was paid if you were getting Universal Credit in an assessment period that ended between 26 August and 25 September 2022.

You can view your Assessment Period dates by looking at your Universal Credit statements in your online journal.

For first instalment, you need to look for the statement where the assessment period ended after 26 April and before 25 May 2022. For second instalment, look for the assessment period ended after 26 August and before 25 September 2022. 

If that statement gave you entitlement to Universal Credit of any amount of money above £0, you were able to get the first or second or both instalments of the £650 payment.

Is it too late for me to qualify for the extra help?

It is not too late to qualify for the £400 off your energy bill.

It is not too late to qualify for the help for people in Northern Ireland, people who live in park homes, or people who heat their homes with alternative fuels.

I am entitled to several of these kinds of help - do I have to choose which I get?

No, you don't have to choose. 

You can get most of these kinds of help together.

For example, a disabled person over 66 living alone and getting Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance and paying an energy bill to an energy supplier received:

• £400 off her energy bill; and
• £150 off her energy bill from Warm Home Discount, and
• £300 extra payment for people over 66, and
• £500 Winter Fuel Payment, and
• £650 payment for people on the lowest incomes, and
• £150 payment for disabled people

The Northern Ireland £600 help with energy bills scheme is separate from the England, Scotland and Wales scheme for £400 off energy bills. You cannot get both of these.

There are several people living in my home with their own benefit claims, can we each get the payments?

The Disability Payments are paid per disabled person, so if multiple people in the property or household get disability benefits, then each of them is entitled to get the extra £150.

The £650 was paid per benefit household. For example, if someone lives with their adult son, or their friend, and each person has their own Universal Credit claim, each of them is entitled to get the £650 payment. If you live with a partner, you are only entitled one £650 payment for the two of you.

The £300 payment is paid per household that qualifies for Winter Fuel Payment. 

The £400 payment is paid as a discount on energy bills. It is only applied per energy bill, no matter how many people are named on the bill or live in the property.

I live on a park home. What help can I get?

If you are entitled to the help for people on low incomes, the help for disabled people, or the help for people over 66, you can get these.

Applications are closed now for the Warm Home Discount scheme for park home residents.

Is there any other help I can get as well as this? 

Warm Home Discount

• The government has made changes to the Warm Home Discount scheme for winter 2022/23. People in England and Wales no longer have to apply for the Warm Home Discount. People in Scotland should apply to their energy company for the Warm Home Discount scheme.
• Anyone getting guarantee pension credit will get an extra £150 off their energy bill. Pension credit is underclaimed. Lots of people are missing out on help they could be getting. If you are over 66, use our Benefits Calculator to check if you could get pension credit.
• Households getting Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or Savings pension Credit might also be able to get £150 off their energy bills. Your energy company will make an assessment to see if you have high energy needs. If you get the qualifying benefit and have high energy needs, you will get £150 off your energy bill automatically.
• Not all energy companies offer the Warm Home Discount.

Financial health check

Make sure you have checked out all the other help you can get to increase your income and reduce your spending. 

I'm struggling - is there anything I can access now? 

Councils have been given money to support people who are struggling. Contact your council to see what help they can offer.