A guide to grants available to help with the cost of living crisis.
Eligibility: Households with a domestic electricity meter (all households)
When/how: Via energy suppliers over 6 months from October 2022. Direct debit and credit customers- money credited to their account. Pre-payment meter customers- provided with redeemable vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) from the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post. Customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point (note!) customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point.
Grant: £300 per household
Eligibility: Must be over State Pension age (aged 66 or above) between 19 – 25/9/2022 and be receiving the Winter Fuel Payment. (8 million pensioners)
When/how: Automatically as a top-up to their annual Winter Fuel Payment in November/ December 2022. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit. A further payment of £300 due in 2023/24.
Eligibility: Households on certain means tested benefits as at 25/5/2022 for the first instalment, (another entitlement date for the second instalment will be announced)- Universal Credit or 5 Legacy Benefits(JSA(IB), ESA(IR)/ IS/ WTC/ CTC) or Pension Credit (8 million households)
When/how: Automatically paid by the DWP in 2 instalments: the first between 14/7/2022 – 31/7/2022 and the second between 8/11/2022-23/11/2022. HMRC will pay a little after this to avoid duplicate payments. £900 additional payment due in 2023/24.
Eligibility: Claimants on DLA/ PIP/ AA/ Scottish Disability Benefits/ Armed Forces Independence Payment/Constant Attendance Allowance/ War Pension Mobility Supplement at 25/5/2022 (6 million claimants).
When/how: Automatically in September 2022. A further payment of £150 due in 2023/24.
Grant: Variable amounts- discretionary
Eligibility: An extra £500 million of local support, via the Household Support Fund, will be extended from this October to March 2023.
In Wales, the fund includes a £200 payment to those on universal credit, legacy means tested benefit and working tax credits, also those on child tax credits, pension credits, disability benefits, carers allowance, contributory benefits and those receiving help from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
When/how: Contact your Local Authority for details and how to apply. The fund will continue in 2023/24.
Eligibility: For households in England in Council Tax bands A-D.
When/how: Those who pay Council Tax by direct debit will be paid automatically into their bank accounts from April 2022. Those who do not pay by direct debit will be contacted by their council and invited to make a claim.
