The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced more detail on the payment schedule for the next round of cost of living support unveiled in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.
Eight million people receiving benefits and on low incomes will receive a £900 cost-of-living payments in three instalments. The first payment of £301 will be made in the spring, with a second of £300 in the autumn and a final £299 instalment in the spring of 2024.
The government also confirmed that a £150 cost-of-living payment would automatically go to disabled people during the summer, and a further £300 payment would be paid to pensioners during the winter of 2023-24.
The government also set a cap on the unit price of energy for households, which means the typical household pays £2,500 a year. This will rise to £3,000 a year when the cap is reset in April.
However, the universal £400 discount, which is being paid in monthly instalments over this winter is not expected to be continued. See GOV.UK.
Charities have called on the government to do more to protect vulnerable households from soaring costs, claiming that support had not improved for those already struggling, including comments from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition
Check out our Cost of Living page.