Resources for Financial Support

Funding available

£400 per household

Eligibility

All households eligible (except individuals in residential care)

Payment

Paid via energy suppliers over 6 months from October 2022, in 6 instalments. Applied to electricity accounts.

Direct debit/credit customers will have money credited to their account.

Customers with repayment meters will have the amount applied to their meter or via a voucher.

Landlords are responsible to pass on any payments to households where rent includes utility costs.

See Energy Bills Support Scheme explainer - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Funding available

£650

Eligibility

Households receiving certain income-based benefits, on any day between 26th April and 25th May.

If a person begins a claim for pension credit after 25th May 2022 and then later receives an award which is backdated to a date on or before 25th May 2022, they would be eligible to receive a Cost of Living Payment. The last date to make a claim for Pension Credit to be eligible for the Cost of Living Payment will be 24th August 2022.

People in residential care are eligible provided they receive one of the eligible benefits.

Eligible benefits include:

• Universal Credit

• Income Based JSA

• Income Related ESA

• Income Support

• Working Tax Credit/Child Tax Credits

• Pension Credit (either Guarantee Credit or Savings Credit)

Payment

Automatically paid by the DWP, usually in the same way as the qualifying benefit is paid. There will be 2 instalments of £326 or £324 in July 2022 and Autumn 2022. Joint claimants will only receive one of each of the payments.

Those on Tax Credits will receive their first payment of £326 in the autumn and the second payment £324 in the winter.

Payments will not be treated as income or capital for means tested benefits, and they will not count towards the benefit cap.

More information can be found here Cost of Living Payment 

Funding available

£300 per household

Eligibility

Must be over State Pension age between 19th and 25th September 2022 and be receiving the Winter Fuel Payment.

People living in supported living or housing with care who meet the criteria will receive the payment.

 Some people will not be eligible including:

• People in hospital receiving treatment for more than a year

• People who require permission to enter the UK and whose granted leave states they cannot claim public funds

• People in prison for the whole week from 19th to 25th Sep 22

• People who were living in a residential care home from 27 Jun to 25 Sep 22 and received Pension Credit.

However, if they live in residential care and receive a state retirement pension without pension credit, they can receive a winter fuel payment.

Payment

Automatic top-up to the annual Winter Fuel Payment made in November/December 2022, in the usual way.

Funding available

£150

Eligibility

Per claimant receiving certain benefits on 25th May 2022 or have made a claim for disability benefit by 25th May 2022, which is later successful. Eligible benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance

• Personal Independence Payment

• Attendance Allowance

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• Constant Attendance Allowance

• War Pension Mobility Supplement at 25/5/2022

Payment

Automatically paid in September 2022 Payments will be made to people who get a qualifying disability from DWP before payments to people who get a qualifying benefit from the Ministry of Defence.

More information can be found here Cost of Living Payment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Funding available

£150 Per households in England living in Council Tax bands A-D.

Eligibility

Those living in residential care will not have a payment unless they have a council tax liability.

Those in supported living would only receive the rebate if they have a council tax liability, which is not normally the case.

There is also a discretionary scheme run by the local councils which can help people in need, living in properties above band D

Payment

 Those who pay Council Tax by direct debit will be paid automatically into their bank accounts from April 2022

 Norwich City Council will be writing to all residents who are eligible for the rebate but don’t pay their council tax by direct debit, to invite them to provide their back details. The letters will include a secure access key code.

More guidance is available here Support for energy bills - the council tax rebate 2022-23: billing authority guidance 

Funding available

£150

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements have changed this winter (2022/2023).

The claimant or their partner must be in receipt of the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit.

They must have an account with a participating electricity supplier.

They must be named on the electricity bill.

 It is also possible to be eligible via other qualifying benefit, including:

• Savings Credit portion of Pension Credit

• Housing Benefit In this case, the government assesses the customer’s circumstances (energy costs based on the type, age and size of their property). The assessment takes place on a specific date, known as the ‘qualifying date’ which is normally in July. It is possible to challenge the decision.

Payment

One off payment, usually added as credit to your electricity bill, usually between October and April (2022 – 2023).

Customers with a pre-payment meter will usually be given a top-up voucher.

Payment is automatic if your electricity supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount

Sometimes it is possible to get the discount applied to your gas bill if you are a dual-fuel customer with the same supplier

More guidance is here Warm Home Discount Scheme

Funding available

£100- £300

Eligibility

People over the State Pension age (born on or before 25th September) and receiving the State Pension.

They must have been living in the UK during the qualifying week which is the week beginning from the 3rd Monday in September.

Eligible households will also get an extra £300 top-up see Pensioner Cost of Living Payment details above.

Someone living in a care home or nursing home will usually get a smaller payment if they are not getting one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit

• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Income Support

If they live in a care home or nursing home and do get one of the benefits listed above, they will not be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment.

Payment

Payment is automatically paid, usually between November and December. The level of payment depends on your age, who you live with and any benefits received.

More information can be found here: Winter Fuel Payment: Eligibility 

• The British Gas Energy Trust

• The EDF Energy Customer Support Fund

• The E.ON Energy Fund

• E.ON Next Energy Fund

• Scottish Power Hardship Fund

• Ovo Energy Fund

• Bulb Energy Fund

• Octopus ‘Octo Assist Fund

Help Available

Check with your energy company to find out how they operate their scheme.

The help available might include:

• Getting a boiler repair or replacement

• Assistance to pay energy debts

Some energy suppliers also offer other indirect help to their customers such as advice on using less energy and reducing energy-related debts.