EIGHT million Brits living on low incomes could be eligible for the Cost of Living crisis payment, that launched on Thursday July 14.
The first payment of £326 hit bank accounts from last Thursday onwards.
It's the first instalment of the £650 payment to those claiming Universal Credit, and certain other benefits.
But not everyone has received their payment yet.
You might be waiting for your first instalment, as payments are staggered and are being sent at different times.
If you are on Tax Credits, or being on Child Tax Credits, you will get benefits from HMRC instead of the Department of Work and Pensions, so it will arrive later.
To get the first cost of living payment, you must have been entitled to Universal Credit payments from April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022.
As far as we know, the next payment will be made in autumn, most likely around October time, before temperatures start dropping.
Read our cost of living payments live blog below for the latest updates…
- henry moore
Millennials and Gen Z dump streaming services amid cost of living crisis
As bills go up and living becomes more and more expensive, reports suggest that young people are cancelling their streaming subscriptions.
This comes as news emerged that millions of people have dumped Netflix due to rising prices.
- henry moore
How do I apply for pension credit?
To claim pension credit, you can either:
- Claim online
- Call the pension credit claim line on 0800 99 1234
Before you make a claim it’s important to have all your details to hand.
You’ll need your National Insurance number, bank account details and information about your income, savings and investments.
Tip: Use online benefits calculators to work out how much you are owed
Benefits like Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help you get by if you're on a low income or in ill health.
There are a number of calculators online that allow you to work out just how many benefits you can claim.
Entitledto's free calculator works out whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
Entitledto's data also powers benefit checkers from MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange.
Use Policy in Practice's calculator to not only find out which benefits you could receive but also to find out how much cash you'll have leftover each month after paying for housing costs.
- henry moore
Numbers to call if you need a helping hand
If you are having a hard time paying your ever-rising energy bills, these organisations are there to offer a helping hand.
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
- Step Change – 0800 138 1111
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
Cost of living updates
Keep informed with The Sun on the cost of living payments.
Pick up some of the best money saving tips with The Sun.
One Million Brits still to receive cost of living payment
The first half of the £650 support started hitting people's bank accounts from July 14.
But reports claim that up to One million Brits are yet to get their money.
Cash-strapped families have turned to online forums to share their frustration over not getting the cash yet.
One said: "If I don't get it tonight I'm going to slowly give up. My sister had hers, her partner, her friend everyone but me but I'm the one with children to feed."
Another said: "I'm so stressed and worried I'm not going to get this payment."
Cost of living payments: Everything you need to know
- All the key dates for cost of living payments revealed
- Every household will get a £400 cost of living payment to help with energy bills
- See the full list of benefits eligible for £650 cost of living cash
- Here’s free cash you can get if you DON’T qualify for the £650 cost of living payment
- Millions of pensioners will get a £300 cost of living payment this winter
- Disabled Brits will get £150 this September
- Parents can get up to £200 towards school uniform costs
Paternity Pay during the cost of living crisis
Men can take time off from work when their partner is having a baby, adopting a child or having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement.
But the amount of time they can take is a lot less.
You might be eligible for:
- One or two weeks’ paid Paternity Leave
- Paternity Pay
The weekly rate for paternity pay is £156.66, or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).
You may not get both leave and pay, and there are rules on how to claim and when your leave can start.
In terms of eligibility you must be taking time off work to look after the child and be the father, the husband or partner of the mother, the child’s adopter or the intended parent (if you are having a baby through a surrogacy arrangement).
You can read the full rules on eligibility on the government’s website. It’s always worth checking to make sure you can benefit.
£650 grant: Which means-tested benefits make me eligible?
The Government says its £650 grant will be rewarded to eight million households, especially those receiving the following, according to i News:
Universal credit
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income-related employment and support allowance
Income support
Working tax credit
Child tax credit
Pension creditEditDelete
- Matt Snape
Will my partner also get a £650 payment?
If you have a combined claim with a partner, you will only get one payment of £650 for both of you, according to i News.
Means-tested benefits are provided based on your income and how much capital you have – if someone can prove that their income and capital are below a certain level, they are eligible.
- Matt Snape
£650 grant: Which means-tested benefits make me eligible?
The Government says its £650 grant will be rewarded to eight million households, especially those receiving the following, according to i News:
Universal credit
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income-related employment and support allowance
Income support
Working tax credit
Child tax credit
Pension credit
- Matt Snape
Can disabled people receive the £650 grant?
Those eligible for the disability payment may also be able to gain an extra £650, according to i News.
The grant is being rewarded to people who gain means-tested benefits.
- Matt Snape
Disability payment: When will it be paid?
Eligible claimants will gain their payment from September, according to i News.
Payments will be issued to those who get a qualifying disability from DWP before those who get it from the MoD.
You do not have to register for the payment, it should be paid to you automatically.
The £150 disability payment is tax free, and won’t count towards the benefits cap or affect any existing benefits you currently claim.
- Matt Snape
How will disability benefit work if I get two separate qualifying payments?
According to i News, if you receive a qualifying disability benefit mentioned in previous posts from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and a qualifying disability benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), you will only get a payment from DWP.
- Matt Snape
Disability benefit: How do I qualify?
Those battling the cost of living crisis may be relieved to know the Government is providing them with a one-off disability payment worth £150.
According to i News, you must have received one of the following qualifying benefits by May 25, 2022:
Attendance allowance
Constant attendance allowance
Disability living allowance for adults
Disability living allowance for children
Personal independence payment (PIP)
Adult disability payment (in Scotland)
Child disability payment (in Scotland)
Armed Forces independence payment
War pension mobility supplement
- Matt Snape
£150 disability cost of living payment: Am I eligible?
Soaring inflation is leading the Government to introduce a raft of measures to help people, including a £150 sum for people with disabilities.
According to i News, you will be eligible for such a payment if you receive one of the following:
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Disability living allowance for adults
- Disability living allowance for children
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- Adult disability payment (in Scotland)
- Child disability payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces independence payment
- War pension mobility supplement
NHS Wales: RCN to ballot members on industrial action over pay
A nursing union is to ballot members on likely industrial action after most NHS employees in Wales were offered a below-inflation pay rise.
BBC News reports that doctors, consultants, GPs and nurses in Wales are being offered between 4 percent and 5.5 percent.
Other NHS workers, including cleaners and porters, will receive an average of 7.5 percent, the Welsh Government said.
“Nurses will be outraged to hear the pay award is well below inflation yet again,” said Helen Whyley, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales.
Cost of living payments: what you need to know
- All the key dates for cost of living payments revealed
- Every household will get a £400 cost of living payment to help with energy bills
- See the full list of benefits eligible for £650 cost of living cash
- Here’s free cash you can get if you DON’T qualify for the £650 cost of living payment
- Millions of pensioners will get a £300 cost of living payment this winter
- Disabled Brits will get £150 this September
- Parents can get up to £200 towards school uniform costs
One reason why you WON’T get the £650 payment even if on Universal Credit
You worked overtime
The same could apply if you have done overtime in the period April 26 – May 25.
If you earn more than usual from working more hours, this could also reduce your Universal Credit to zero.
This means you could miss out on the first half of the cost of living cash worth £326.
One reason why you WON’T get the £650 payment even if on Universal Credit
When you’re in work and on Universal Credit your payments are reduced the more you earn.
This is known as the taper rate and for every £1 you earn over a certain amount your Universal Credit payment is reduced by 55p.
You may have a certain amount you can earn first before the taper rate applies -this is known as the work allowance.
Otherwise it applies to all your earnings.
If you get a bonus payment this can push up your earning to an amount where your Universal Credit reduced to zero for the month.
Unfortunately if this happens at the same time that qualifying period for the cost of living payment, it could mean you don’t get the cash.
Can disabled people receive the £650 grant?
Those eligible for the disability payment may also be able to gain an extra £650, according to i News.
The grant is being rewarded to people who gain means-tested benefits.
- Lauren Lomas
£650 grant: Which means-tested benefits make me eligible?
The Government says its £650 grant will be rewarded to eight million households, especially those receiving the following, according to i News:
Universal credit
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income-related employment and support allowance
Income support
Working tax credit
Child tax credit
Pension credit
- Lauren Lomas
Wetherspoons just launched a massive summer deal with drinks at £1.99 each
The deal sees customers snatching up a selection of 28 different drinks for less than £2!
Drinks for less includes:
- Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger
- Beefeater Blood Orange
- AU Blue Raspberry Vodka
- Dead Man’s Fingers Pineapple
- Kopparberg draught cider
- Stowford Press Mixed Berries
You can find your local branch using the chain's pub checker tool on its website.
Thousands of households can get £75 in FREE cash for groceries
If you need help making ends meet as bills spiral, you can apply to your local council's Household Support Fund.
The scheme, which has had £1.5billion piled into it so far, sees local authorities given a slice of funding to dish out to hard-up residents.
It aims to help households pay for spiralling bills like energy and groceries, as a crippling cost of living crisis hits the nation's finances.
Energy bills are expected to hit just shy of £3,000 by the end of this year, while food bills are soaring due to rocketing inflation.
Help you can get under the scheme varies depending on where you live.
Click here to find out more.
What help are energy companies providing?
Many people are struggling with surging energy bills. What help is there out there, though?
Energy suppliers have schemes in place to help with bills and arrears, including hardship funds and grants.
For example, British Gas and Octopus have set up funds worth up to £1,500 to assist customers who are struggling with their bills.
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