I’m a bills expert – all the key dates you need to know including cost of living payments
MILLIONS of people are finding it harder each day to pay for everyday essentials such as fuel, food and energy bills as the cost of living crisis bites.
Inflation has hit 9.4% and economists have warned that figure could reach 15% in a possible worst-case scenario.
It means people are finding it harder than ever to make their money stretch.
Keeping on top of your finances and all the key calendar dates for payments and support is crucial if you're concerned about the cost of living.
We spoke to Emily Seymour, an energy expert at Which? for all the key dates you need to put in your diary:
Now
Earlier this year the government announced a raft of supportive measures for struggling households.
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These include a number of cost of living payments including a £400 energy bill discount for all UK households.
Eight million households are also eligible for a £650 cost of living payment, which will arrive in two instalments.
Emily said if you qualify for a number of benefits including Universal Credit and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), then you should have already received the first £326 instalment.
The second £324 chunk should be paid in the autumn, although the government has yet to confirm a specific date.
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Meanwhile, millions of low income pensioners will also receive an additional £300 winter fuel payment.
And if you're on disability benefits, you could get a one-off £150 payment by the end of September.
Emily said: "These payments will all be made automatically - providing you qualify - so there should be no need to apply for them."
September
The government is handing out £150 council tax rebates to millions of eligible households and it has until the end of September to dish out the cash.
Payments to those living in properties in council tax bands A-D started to roll out from April 1.
Emily said: "This includes those who receive Local Council Tax Support, even if their council tax bill for the year is less than £150."
If you pay your council tax via direct debit, the payment will be made automatically to you, but if you don't you may have to contact your local council for more details.
It's worth checking out website for more details, Emily said.
If you're not eligible for the council tax rebate, you may qualify for a grants from the government's discretionary fund.
Emily added, if you receive Universal Credit or housing benefit and are struggling to make your rent payments or to put down a rental deposit, you can apply to your local council for a discretionary housing payment.
Emily said: "Your local council will decide whether you’re eligible and the amount you’ll receive is based on your individual circumstances.
"You’ll need to explain why you need help and if you feel you’re at risk of homelessness."
You apply through your council’s discretionary housing payments team, and should hear back within 5-10 days.
October
With energy bills predicted to reach over £4,000 next year, families need all the help they can get.
The energy price cap was introduced in 2019 by the regulator Ofgem.
Emily said the idea was to ensure fair prices for customers who don't actively sign up to an energy tariff: "It's reviewed every six months, in April and October, although Ofgem recently proposed changing this to every three months."
Just because the energy price cap rises, that doesn't mean that's what you'll pay for your bills though.
Emily explained: "It's not a cap on your payments, but a limit on the amount that suppliers can charge for each unit of energy you use and your daily standing charge."
So the actual amount you pay will depend on your provider and how much energy you use.
If you're worried about how you might pay your bills start by contacting your energy supplier.
"It might feel like the last thing you want to do, but the company has a duty to work with you to find an energy plan you can afford," said Emily.
"You should also check if you qualify for any government schemes or benefits, such as the warm home discount scheme, cold weather payments or winter fuel payments."
Also in October, three million households will get £150 through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The scheme is for people who struggle to pay for their energy throughout the winter, and is available to two groups:
- The core group - if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you're in this group. In most cases, your energy supplier will identify you automatically and write to you telling you how to get the discount.
- The broader group - if you are on a low income or get certain means-tested benefits, you might qualify in this group.
But, Emily said, each energy supplier has its own eligibility criteria, so you should check with yours to see if you meet its requirements.
The money is credited to your energy account and not paid automatically.
If you have a pre-payment meter, your energy company will confirm how you'll get the discount - it may be through a voucher you can use to top up your meter.
Emily said: "You should get the discount off your electricity bill by 31 March 2022.
"If you are in the broader group, you will need to stay with your electricity supplier until you have received the discount."
November
Between November and March cold weather payments are made to households that get certain benefits.
The money is paid out if the average temperature where you live is forecasted or recorded as 0°C or below for seven days in a row.
Emily said: "If you're eligible, you will get £25 for each seven-day period with those temperatures between 1 November and 31 March.
"This should be paid into the same bank account that receives your benefits, within 14 days of the cold spell."
You don't need to apply for cold weather payments but you have to tell Jobcentre Plus if you get any of the following:
- Pension Credit Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for Mortgage Interest
However, Emily said you're only guaranteed a cold weather payment if you receive Pension Credit.
If you don't receive Pension Credit, you may need to meet additional criteria, like having a child under five, a disabled child, a disability or pensioner premium.
December
If you were born on or before September 26, 1955, it's likely you'll be able to get Winter Fuel Payments of between £100 and £300.
These are usually paid around November or December.
The payments are to help older people with their gas or electric heating in the winter, when people typically use more energy.
The government announced in May eight million pensioner households who currently receive the Winter Fuel Payment will get an additional £100-£300 depending on their age and circumstances which will be paid in the autumn.
This means you may receive that sum of money before your Winter Fuel Payment.
The amount you'll get will depend on your age and living circumstances.
You'll be paid automatically if you're over 66 and get the State Pension or another social security benefit (excluding Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).
Emily said: "You don't need to apply if you have received Winter Fuel Payments before, unless you've deferred your State Pension or moved overseas.
"If you have moved abroad, you'll need to have lived in the UK for at least one day during the 'qualifying period'.
"For 2021-22 payments, that was 20 to 26 September 2021."
What extra help is there on offer?
Emily explained if you're struggling to pay your bills, including fuel and water, you can pay for some of them directly from your benefit payments.
"These are sometimes called 'third party deductions'," Emily said.
The benefits you can use to pay for bills are:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
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Emily explained the amount you'll pay through deductions directly from your benefits depends on how much you're paying off and it was decided by Jobcentre Plus or your pension centre.
If you don't know how to contact Jobcentre Plus, you can use the .