Household Costs Of Living Assistance

[Bazile]

Has anyone got a list of what assistance has been pledged / paid so far by the government for households ?

[Buenchico]

To the best of my knowledge, there have been no new firm initiatives, rather than just 'proposals', since this was published three months ago:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-support-for-the-cost-of-living-factsheet/government-support-for-the-cost-of-living-factsheet

[pastafreak]

Does this help? First half of £650 payment has been paid.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/18906552/cost-living-payments-benefits-universal-credit-dates-august-september/

[nailit]

Ive received the first half of £650 payment,
but then getting news on FB that there is another £400 payment.
All a bit confusing!

[nailit]

Is it payed to my energy provider or me?

[Bazile]

Thanks

Have folk got to apply for these payments ?

[bednobs]

that's true - everyone getting 400 off their bill (directly by the supplier. People on means tested benefits getting £650 in two payments. Pensioners getting extra, people on disability benefits getting extra

[rowanwitch]

Anyone who has Severn Trent as their water supplier should apply for the big difference scheme,you don't have to be in benefits to apply can get you up to 90% off your water rates. That saving will help towards paying your fuel cost .... Nailit this should help you if you haven't applied already

[pastafreak]

I wish South West water had a scheme like that. They've just raised my bill :(

[nailit]

Rowan,
//Nailit this should help you if you haven't applied already//
Thank you.
I already get single person occupancy discount but will defo
look into this. Thank you.

[LadyCG]

We had rebate of about £217 on our water a few months ago because we were being overcharged. I think we only pay about £20 a month now.

I'm not sure what we as a household will get from the Government over the winter period but the amount they deduct from my weekly overtime is obscene.

[Bobbisox1]

Best thing I ever did was to go on a water meter , I pay around £20 now , it used to be around £37-50

[LadyCG]

I don't think we're on a meter, Bobbi, but we were paying around £34 a month which I always felt was a bit steep!

[LadyCG]

I have also just gone onto a Sim-only contract. My last phone contract was a total con and I was mis-sold two contracts that were running side-by-side and didn't even have a clue until I called EE to switch to Sim-only. In essence I've gone from paying £48 a month to £8 a month.

[Bobbisox1]

I’m looking at ways to make savings which I’m ashamed to say ,there’s a few

[LadyCG]

Bobbi, I'm ashamed to say we spend an average of £500 a month on takeaways, wine, beer and eating out. Our attitude has always been, "We work hard, we deserve a treat."

However it's become a way of life and therefore not a "treat" and I was shocked when OH produced two months' worth of receipts for all our indulgences.

We've always had a freezer overflowing with food but no actual meals. I have started converting the food into meals by batch-cooking and I think it's quite prudent to do all this batch-cooking now before the winter energy prices come into effect. I can defrost a cooked meal the night before and then nuke it at work the next day, using their electricity... :-)

[Bobbisox1]

I suppose I’ve been the same, worked all our lives ,paid into a private pension and did what we wanted because we had the time not working , yep, time to take a rain check

[Thisoldbird]

My understanding is every householder will get £400 paid to your provider. It's to be paid back to the customer at £65 a month for 6 months , AFTER that months payment has been made.
The 2and half of £650 COL payment due Autumn.
Pensioners who qualify for winter fuel allowance will get an EXTRA £300 on top.
There is a £150 payment to disabled claimants on means tested benefits.

That's how I understand it.