Cost of Living Payments
If are struggling with the rising cost of living and energy bills, you may be entitled support by the government. This page details cost of living payments being made in 2022, who is eligible and how to report a missing payment.
Disability Cost of Living Payment
This is a one off £150 paid to those who are in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit and were in receipt of that benefit in May 2022. Those who are eligible will be paid automatically into the bank account that they receive their benefit in, starting from the 20th of September to the beginning October 2022.
Qualifying benefits are:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
This is a one off £300 paid to those eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment. If you are eligible, you will receive this automatically with your Winter Fuel Payment and on top of the cost of living payment for your benefits or tax credits. You do not have have to pay back your pensioner cost of living payment.
Cost of Living Payment
The Cost-of-Living Payment is £650 paid in 2 lump sums. The first payment of £326 was paid in July 2022 and the second payment is £324 received in autumn. To be eligible, you must have been receiving one of the low-income benefits listed below in May 2022.
Qualifying benefits are:
• Universal Credit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
If you believe that you have not received a payment, you can report this on the GOV.uk website.
Increasing your income
If your household income feels tight or you've had a change in circumstance, check your entitlement to benefits, or look at other ways to increase your income.
Energy Bills Support Scheme
Every household in the Great Britain will receive £400 off of their electricity bill from the government, starting from October 2022. This Energy Bills Support Scheme makes payments automatically and the money is not paid back.
You will get the £400, paid over 6 instalments starting from October 2022. You’ll get:
• £66 in October and November
• £67 in December, January, February and March
Homes that pay their energy bills monthly (or quarterly) will have the instalments taken off their bill automatically, while those with pay as you go meters will be contacted to confirm how you will receive your £400. This may be in the form of a voucher.
