Government reveals pay dates for cost of living support package

2 mins read

Tuesday 21 June 2022

Tags: energy bills, cost of living, out of energy, support package

More details are now available on when eligible families will receive their one-off cost of living payments as part of the government’s cost of living support package. 

The government announced its support package in May. This followed months of tireless campaigning from organisations and individuals, including our Out of Energy campaign. 

£650 for low-income families 

Low-income households on most means-tested benefits or tax credits will receive £650. These are paid in two lump sums of £326 and £324. There’s no need to apply, as eligible claimaints will receive both instalments automatically.

Most of the first payments of £326 will be paid between 14 July and the end of July. The second instalment of £324 will be paid in the autumn. 

However, families who get Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will only receive their first instalment in the autumn and their second payment in winter. 

These instalments are not taxable and won’t affect the benefits or tax credits you receive. 

For more information on who is eligible for this one-off payment, visit the government’s website. 

£150 for those on disability benefits 

Individuals who receive a qualifying disability benefit ,such as Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, will be eligible for a one-off sum of £150. This will be paid from September. 

To be eligible, you must be in receipt of (or have begun an eventually successful claim for) one of the qualifying disability benefits as of 25 May. 

Those who are eligible for the low-income payment and the disability payment will receive both sums. This amounts to a total of £800. 

£400 grant for energy bills 

Households in the UK will also be eligible for a £400 grant to help them with their energy bills. 

No further information is yet available about this grant. The government has already announced that energy suppliers will deliver it directly to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. 

Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account. Customers with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter or paid via a voucher. 

For more information on the grant, take a look at the government’s factsheet. 

For more about this topic, visit our webpage on help with utility bills.