The government has announced that millions of the lowest-income households will begin receiving cost of living payments worth up to £1,350 from this Spring, helping the most vulnerable with the cost of living. The support package include the first of three instalments of £300 for those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits, an additional £150 for over six million disabled people this Summer, and £300 for pensioners next Winter.
These payments build on the government’s extensive support package to help households tackle the globally rising cost of living and comes on top of the 2022 support package, which included a £650 Cost of Living payment for means-tested benefit claimants; a further £300 and £150 payments for pensioners and disabled people; a £150 Council Tax rebate for all households in Council Tax bands A-D and a £400 energy bill discount for all households, which will continue to run through March.
In addition, the government’s Energy Price Guarantee continues to cap energy costs, saving the average household around £900 this winter and a further £500 in 2023/24. Benefits, including working age benefits and the State Pension, will also rise in line with inflation from April 2023, ensuring they increase by over 10%. April will also see the biggest ever cash rise to the National Living Wage, bringing it to £10.42 an hour, and a further year-long extension of the Household Support Fund.
Commenting on the news, Stuart Donnelly, Conservative election candidate for Davyhulme said “The aftershocks of Covid-19 and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine continue to cause global inflationary pressures - but the government is determined to deliver on its promise to the British people to support those hardest hit. That is why the government has announced that millions of low-income households will begin receiving cost of living payments from this Spring. These payments will provide vital support to the most vulnerable in dealing with rising prices, and builds on the £1,200 of support made to over eight million households last year.
“It’s also reassuring that North Trafford eligible residents will be paid the money automatically and there will be no need to apply. Local residents can find out what other support they may be entitled to by visiting here.”
