Cost of living

Details of support measures designed to help millions of households across the country battle spiralling inflation and soaring energy bills during 2023/24, ...

Ms Davies explained: “We will be bringing forward legislation for the 23/24 Cost of Living Payments in due course. Anyone receiving Tax Credits along with a qualifying benefit from DWP will be paid by DWP only. As before, people receiving Tax Credits-only will be paid separately by HMRC. However, the hadn't issued specific eligibility criteria for the £900 payment. More than eight million households on means-tested benefits will now receive the support. Mims Davies also explained that people determined to have a Universal Credit nil award during the qualifying assessment period could be eligible for a 2022/23 cost of living

The BBC Radio 2 presenter visited the Foodie Friday event run by the charity Guiding Hands, one of the groups eligible for funding from our Christmas ...

She urged readers to donate to On the Breadline to help projects like Guiding Hands and said: “That is the best use for a spare fiver — forget any Christmas tat or an overpriced coffee. The event takes place on Friday afternoons, allowing parents to do the school run first, and products are tailored to the needs of users. “It could be someone that’s on £25,000 a year, but this month the ceiling caved in and they need help,” said Ms Davis. Kirsty, who lives in temporary accommodation, said: “This month is when I’ve felt the real struggle, especially with electricity and gas bills, so I come here for my food.” The 25-year-old, who helps look after her sister’s five children, added that the project is a massive help. Ms Davis explained how Guiding Hands works to make the food bank more accessible to those in need by making it family friendly. [poverty](/topic/poverty) and people who are struggling, when you’re there and unpacking the bags of pasta and tins of soup, it hits home just how tough it is for people,” she said.

Payments of £150 for people on disability benefits, £300 for pensioner households and £900 for those on means-tested benefits is just some of the help that is ...

Payments will be given in 2023 and 2024, building on the support which has been made available this year. In a written response on December 2, DWP Minister Mims Davies MP confirmed that legislation for the 2023/24 cost of living payments “in due course”. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released further details about the £900 cost of living payment set to be given in 2023 and 2024. [in terms of energy bill](https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/british-gas-email-ofgems-january-25750483)s, where the price cap will be extended to March 31, but also billions of pounds to help pensioners and those on disability benefits. The Treasury Committee has also made suggestions of splitting the payment into calculated distributions, when the vulnerable will need it most. Mims Davies also explained that people determined to have a Universal Credit nil award during the qualifying assessment period could be eligible for a 2022/23 cost of living payment retrospectively if a sanction is successfully appealed, or if they are awarded a Hardship payment in the qualifying period.

87% of Brits say they've discussed methods to reduce their household energy consumption and increase energy efficiency recently, and a quarter have discussed ...

This may be why, nearly half (49%) would consider moving to a new build home due to the energy efficient features already installed. Expect to hear even more about how your friends, colleagues and neighbours are going green in 2023, with the cost of living and energy efficiency the main theme of the nation’s New Year’s resolutions. 87% of Brits say they’ve discussed methods to reduce their household energy consumption and increase energy efficiency recently, and a quarter have discussed this topic for an hour or more on average in recent weeks.

Ms Davies explained that those who had a Universal Credit nil award during the qualifying period for the 2022/23 cost of living payment could get the money ...

DWP minister Mims Davies responded by saying that the legislation for the 2023/24 payment would be presented "in due course", but explained how things worked for the 2022/23 payment. Also included in the support package announced in chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement are £150 disability payments and £300 for some pensioners. Ms Davies explained that those who had a Universal Credit nil award during the qualifying period for the 2022/23 cost of living payment could get the money retrospectively if their sanction is successfully appealed - or if they get a hardship payment in the qualifying period. It has been claimed the information initially issued was not completely clear. She said: "Claimants who were sanctioned but still had an entitlement to a Universal Credit payment of at least 1p for an assessment period ending during the qualifying periods would have been eligible to receive a 2022-23 cost of living payment.” She added that benefit sanctions are calculated with reference to the standard Universal Credit allowance only. Among them is a £900 payment due in 2023.

There are days when I've genuinely not known how I am going to afford to eat or stay warm.”

She said: “I’m going through depression, and on top of that there’s the high cost of living. She is not looking forward to this Christmas as she has had a tough year after having lost family members throughout the last year. Jane, 45, said: “I have reduced the budget per person in terms of what I am spending on Christmas presents. Helen, 74, said: “It affects me quite a bit. She said: “It will be a case of weighing up what is most important. So, this Christmas will not involve as many treats as we have had before.” In fact, it is probably once a day that the heating goes on at night and we are at home most of the time.” Nigel Jones, who lives in Rugby and runs Facebook community page Spotted: Rugby Town but amusing, said: “Like most people, I’m feeling the pinch. We have decided this year we won't 'do Christmas' and save the money we would’ve spent instead. I have mostly been working downstairs in the pub as we have an open fire but the cost of wood rivals that of oil or electric and we have honestly spent hundreds. "Currently we can’t afford oil to heat our flat above the pub. Advertisement

Older people on a low income have until December 18 to put in a claim for pension credit in order to qualify for a second cost-of-living payment, ...

You do not need to be in receipt of State Pension to receive it. Pension credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs. What do I have to do to register for pension credit? They have until December 18 to put in a claim for pension credit in order to qualify for the second part of the government’s The average pension credit award is worth over £3,500 a year, and even a small pension credit award can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills – in addition to the extra cost of living payments.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a new raft of cost of living payments for next year in the Autumn Statement.

- Constant Attendance Allowance - Attendance Allowance - Disability Living Allowance

Find out when your benefits payment date has moved to over the festive season.

- Payments due on Monday, December 26 will be made on Friday, December 23 This means that benefit payments affected by the seasonal bank holidays will land on Friday, December 23, according to The Express. Christmas bonuses may have also landed for a wide range of benefit recipients this week. These include payments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Child Benfit and Tax Credits, Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance. As December 25 lands on a Sunday in 2022, with Boxing Day on a Monday, the bank holiday has been moved to Tuesday, December 27. Theses are affected by the festive period, as is usual with bank holidays.

Household Support Fund payments of £80 per child are available to help the most vulnerable people over the winter. Cornwall Council said the Post Office had ...

"Unfortunately it's taken the Post Office a little longer to create these payments than was originally expected so schools may not have enough time to issue all codes before the end of term." "We'd hoped that codes would be sent to schools this week, before the end of term, so they could be redeemed for cash at Post Offices before Christmas. Cornwall Council said the Post Office had taken "a little longer to create these payments than was originally expected".

It comes after a motion from the Labour group that highlighted the financial situation highways is in.

It really is coming to something when the council's own highways department describes what's going on with the state of our roads as managed decline.” I don't know which residents you're talking to but if the state of our roads and potholes doesn't come up I would be absolutely staggered.” Councillor Lewis Barber (Cons, Constable) said: "There are certainly challenges and certainly we need to need to look at how we manage our budget but we are being innovative to try and come up with solutions.” She said: “The Labour group are living in a parallel universe with this motion. And right now the priorities are not potholes it's dealing with the cost of living." This is compared to Essex County Council’s investment of £36.675m per year to fix those wear and tear issues such as potholes.

Claimants who are eligible for the Christmas bonus will receive it automatically from the DWP. You do not need to do anything to claim it. What does 'DWP XB' ...

[website](https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus/eligibility), you will need to have received benefits during the qualifying week, which usually falls in the first week of December. People who have not claimed their state pension and aren’t entitled to one of the other qualifying benefits will not get the £10. If you can see ‘DWP XB’ on your online banking account or your bank statement, this means that the Christmas bonus has been paid in. The DWP’s Christmas bonus is only available to claimants who claim certain qualifying The Christmas bonus has been issued every December since 1972, when it was first introduced. The traditional Christmas bonus, which has been issued every Christmas since 1972, is worth £10 for those eligible.

Struggling parents have criticised Cornwall Council after it was revealed that cost of living payments for families who receive free school meals…

One commenter defended the council staff on the ground involved in the project, Zoe Gordon said: “I want to thank the tiny free school meals team for their hard work at trying to sort this debacle on top of their day to day work of making sure all children entitled to free school meals received them ASAP in school. And Louise Howlett said: “I was hoping for this money this week so I could buy some extra food for over Christmas, many people like myself are struggling but as always we make do as people like you mess things up. Responding to the council’s Facebook post Lisa Edmunds said: “They had this money months ago from the government but instead of sorting it straight away they have left it until the deadline and now families have to suffer. The poor souls are going to starve this Christmas because they ain’t at school to have a meal so surely it is with the most importance to get this money to families so that doesn’t happen. It just further proves how utterly out of touch you are with Cornish people.” “We understand how important additional financial support is at this time.

After discovering from the municipality that they would not get their payments from the Household Support Fund until after the holidays, several parents ...

The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). Since the less fortunate individuals won't be attending school to get a meal during the holiday break, it is clearly of the highest urgency to get this money into families' hands so they won't go hungry. She said they had received the government cash months ago but had delayed until the deadline to handle the matter, resulting in families being negatively affected. [Lisa Edmunds](/topic/lisa-edmunds)left a comment on the Facebook post that the council had published. The council is in charge of administering contributions from the [Household Support Fund](/topic/household-support-fund)of £80 per child eligible for free school meals. [cost-of-living](/topic/cost-of-living)allowances until after the winter break.

At Henry Tudor School, the team from Pembrokeshire council support families to get pupils back into class. Family engagement officer Emily Morgan starts her day ...

James White, head of engagement and communities in the council's education department, said in "a very small number of cases" parents would be fined or prosecuted if the family does not work with them to address poor attendance. "I've got everything crossed. The council's campaign "It starts in School" is part of its strategy to improve attendance. She wants to get that education, she wants to socialise and she's just struggling at the moment." "She was getting more and more withdrawn, and then it was a total refusal to go." The visit is about offering further support to a family with the promise of a Christmas hamper from the school to ease worries about coping over the holidays.

At Henry Tudor School, the team from Pembrokeshire council support families to get pupils back into class. Family engagement officer Emily Morgan starts her day ...

James White, head of engagement and communities in the council's education department, said in "a very small number of cases" parents would be fined or prosecuted if the family does not work with them to address poor attendance. "I've got everything crossed. The council's campaign "It starts in School" is part of its strategy to improve attendance. She wants to get that education, she wants to socialise and she's just struggling at the moment." "She was getting more and more withdrawn, and then it was a total refusal to go." The visit is about offering further support to a family with the promise of a Christmas hamper from the school to ease worries about coping over the holidays.

Food producers have faced soaring costs, with recent BBC research finding the price of Christmas dinner will be nearly 22 per cent more expensive than in 2021.

They’ve had to kill them and put them down so there’s a shortage of geese and turkeys,” he said. “Turkeys have gone up a fraction on price because of the cost of heating and the war in Ukraine but apart from that, there’s not a massive increase,” he said. “Everyone seems to be all of a sudden deciding they’re just going to do Christmas and worry about it afterwards,” he said.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 0.3 per cent increase. Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, said: “Retail sales fell overall in ...

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While consumers are spending 4.2% more than a year ago, they are focusing on essentials like food and footwear, with overall sales volumes down 5.9%. At a 5% ...

According to research group GfK, consumer confidence edged up two points in December compared to the previous month. The disappointing retail sales data comes despite a slight improvement to consumer confidence in the UK. At a 5% decline, online shopping has decreased less than overall retail sales volumes.

Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas fails to deliver boost for retailers.

“We doubt there is a sustained recovery in retail sales volumes in the pipeline. “Christmas, traditionally has always been very strong and much more resilient than at other times of the year. He added: “People are having to spend their money on other things and there’s less disposable income.” We have a very long final week but ahead of us. And despite inflation probably having reached its peak, we think high prices will continue to keep retail sales volumes subdued. “The 0.4 per cent fall in retail sales volumes in November resumes the downward trend seen across most of the year.

A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a 0.3% rise from October. Earlier on Friday, market research firm GfK said British consumer confidence crept up this ...

"We doubt there is a sustained recovery in retail sales volumes in the pipeline," Cross said. In the latest warning sign that Britain's economy might have entered a recession, retail sales volumes dropped by a month-on-month 0.4% from October. 28, which will be included in December's figures. But investors said the central bank might be getting close to the end of its increases in borrowing costs as inflation shows signs of having peaked and the economy appears to have entered a recession. "The fact that not even the World Cup and Black Friday Christmas shopping could produce an increase in sales will come as a major disappointment to retailers, especially considering the increase last month," said Lynda Petherick, retail lead at consultancy group Accenture (NYSE: Sales had risen by 0.9% in October, a bounce from September when sales were hit by a one-off public holiday to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

The qualifying period for the £900 payment has still to be announced, but eligible means-tested benefits are listed below. These include: Universal Credit ...

Ms Davies explained: “Some 98.9% of sanctions are for failing to attend a mandatory appointment at a Jobcentre, and can often be resolved quickly by claimants getting in touch with the Jobcentre and attending their next appointment. She explained: “We will be bringing forward legislation for the 23/24 Cost of Living Payments in due course. In a response made on December 2, DWP Minister Mims Davies, confirmed that legislation for the 2023/24 cost of living payments will be brought forward “in due course”. As before, people receiving Tax Credits-only will be paid separately by HMRC. The DWP has already given an indication on who will not receive the money. Ms Davies also explained that people determined to have a Universal Credit nil award during the qualifying assessment period could be eligible for a 2022/23 cost of living payment retrospectively if a sanction is successfully appealed, or if they are awarded a Hardship payment in the qualifying period. Claimants who were sanctioned but still had an entitlement to a Universal Credit payment of at least 1p for an assessment period ending during the qualifying periods would have been eligible to receive a 2022/23 cost of living payment.” Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, asked DWP last week if it will take steps to ensure that the means-tested cost of living payment - which will increase from £650 to £900 - will not exclude benefit claimants whose Universal Credit payments have been reduced to a nil award as a result of a sanction. If a sanction is applied, claimants continue to receive these other elements and would remain eligible for cost of living payments.” [ Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/dwp-shares-new-eligibility-details-28654602?int_source=nba&_ga=2.133930509.2018280163.1671177660-62197280.1668451996), the cash is expected to be paid over winter 2023/24 - although the exact payment dates are yet to be announced. [£300 for pensioner households](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/winter-fuel-payments-pensioner-households-28602524) and £900 for those on means-tested benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Tax Credits from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). [ cost of living ](https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/)payments to help people fight inflation and rising energy bills next year.

Universal credit; Income-based jobseeker's allowance; Income-related employment and support allowance; Income support; Pension credit; Working tax credit; Child ...

People are usually paid in November or December, according to [ Government guidance](https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment). [of the cold weather payment](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cold-weather-payment-how-get-who-eligible-25-dwp-need-apply-2024220?ico=in-line_link) in [hundreds of affected postcodes in England and Wales.](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cold-weather-payment-checker-how-check-postcode-dwp-grant-when-paid-2013644?ico=in-line_link) This payment will be tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. [the first part of the grant was £326](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/payment-from-hmrc-who-getting-326-cost-of-living-grant-dwp-1828852?ico=in-line_link), and [ the second is £324](https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/second-cost-of-living-payment-how-much-next-col-grant-324-when-paid-explained-1870237?ico=in-line_link). [£400 discount ](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/when-energy-payment-how-claim-400-payment-apply-1763796?ico=in-line_link)on energy bills is [ also being paid to consumers in six monthly instalments over winter](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/bills/energy-payment-when-paid-bank-account-rebate-explained-1897083?ico=in-line_link). [was split into two instalments](https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/cost-of-living-payment-date-when-second-col-grant-324-paid-november-2022-who-gets-1954903?ico=in-line_link), with the [first being paid between July and September](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/payment-from-hmrc-who-getting-326-cost-of-living-grant-dwp-1828852?ico=in-line_link), and [the final grant coming in November](https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/cost-of-living-payment-second-when-november-2022-dates-next-col-grant-324-1947282?ico=in-line_link). [a £650 cost of living payment](https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/second-cost-of-living-payment-will-get-this-week-324-grant-paid-tax-credits-1988002?ico=in-line_link) and [one-off council tax rebate](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/bills/how-claim-council-tax-rebate-150-payment-local-council-1812535?ico=in-line_link) to the staggered [£400 discount on bills](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/when-energy-payment-how-claim-400-payment-apply-1763796?ico=in-line_link). [the majority of claimants](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/second-cost-of-living-payment-when-get-next-grant-324-paid-8-november-1956695?ico=in-line_link) – those [who receive low-income benefits like universal credit](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/second-cost-of-living-payment-when-get-universal-credit-payment-date-324-grant-explained-1933455?ico=in-line_link) – included in the intitial phase from Tuesday 8 to Wednesday 23 November. It states: “DWP will provide further detail on timing of the payments and eligibility dates in due course. [a disability cost of living payment of £150](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/disability-payment-150-when-get-who-eligible-cost-of-living-support-how-paid-1867920?ico=in-line_link) was paid to the same groups covered by next year’s grant from 20 September. [Autumn Statement](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/what-autumn-statement-me-new-cost-living-payments-council-tax-increases-1976740?ico=in-line_link), the [ Chancellor Jeremy Hunt](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-hunt-net-worth-chancellor-salary-explained-business-1976744?ico=in-line_link) announced [ a series of new measures](https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/cost-of-living-payment-when-next-900-col-grant-dates-explained-1994703?ico=in-line_link) for 2023-24 – here’s what [we know about the payments so far](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/when-900-cost-of-living-payment-paid-expected-date-upcoming-support-wh-1998423?ico=in-line_link). [Government has introduced a range of support grants](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-of-living-payments-government-support-grants-autumn-winter-when-paid-1926092?ico=in-line_link) this year as the UK battles a [ cost of living crisis](https://inews.co.uk/topic/cost-of-living-crisis?ico=in-line_link) driven by [soaring energy prices](https://inews.co.uk/news/energy-prices-rising-what-electricity-bills-so-expensive-how-much-price-cap-going-up-1817060?ico=in-line_link) and [ high inflation rates](https://inews.co.uk/news/inflation-current-uk-rate-means-for-money-1975099?ico=in-line_link).

She added that benefit sanctions are calculated with reference to the standard universal credit allowance only. "We recognise many of the most vulnerable are ...

"Some 98.9% of sanctions are for failing to attend a mandatory appointment at a Jobcentre, and can often be resolved quickly by claimants getting in touch with the Jobcentre and attending their next appointment. If a sanction is applied, claimants continue to receive these other elements and would remain eligible for cost of living payments.” She added that benefit sanctions are calculated with reference to the standard universal credit allowance only. In a written response DWP under-secretary Mims Davies MP confirmed that legislation for the 2023/24 cost of living payments will be brought forward “in due course." The payment was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn statement in November and will be given to around eight million people on means-tested benefits. You can read all the DWP payment dates between now and Christmas

British retail sales slid unexpectedly in November, despite the soccer World Cup and the Black Friday sales promotions, a potential indication of the stress ...

Click [subscribe ](https://www.esmmagazine.com/subscribe)to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine. While consumers are spending 4.2% more than a year ago, they are focusing on essentials like food and footwear, with overall sales volumes down 5.9%," commented Kevin Bright, partner and global leader of the consumer pricing practice at McKinsey & Company. 28, which will be included in December's figures. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/), edited by ESM – your source for the latest [retail](https://www.esmmagazine.com/retail) news. [British](https://www.esmmagazine.com/tag/uk) retail sales slid unexpectedly in November, despite the soccer [World Cup](https://www.esmmagazine.com/tag/world-cup) and the [Black Friday](https://www.esmmagazine.com/tag/black-friday) sales promotions, a potential indication of the stress felt by many households as the cost-of-living crisis eats into their finances. [Accenture](https://www.esmmagazine.com/tag/accenture) in the UK and Ireland.

Black Friday and early Christmas shopping failed to lift the fortunes of UK retailers last month, according to official figures.

Stores are faring better than online, probably aided by the Royal Mail strikes, and clothing sales in store rose, which doesn’t exactly suggest Armageddon.” However, department stores and household goods shops did report increased sales with these retailers telling us a longer period of The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that retail sales volumes slipped 0.4 per cent in November, indicating a much weaker month than expected and following a rise of 0.9 per cent in October.

There was a surprise fall in retail sales last month as shoppers remained cautious given the squeeze on budgets from inflation in the run-up to Christmas.

Andrew Bailey, the governor, pointed to a "glimmer" of hope that the worst was behind us - also expressing hope that the economy was performing a bit better than the Bank had expected. Joe Staton, client strategy director at GfK, said: "Despite the latest GDP figures showing slight growth in October, the warning is of a tough road ahead and that the UK is not out of the recessionary woods. The number-crunchers recorded month-on-month growth of 0.7% compared to the previous reading of 0.6%. The ONS upwardly revised data covering October when sales bounced back after a hit from the impact of widespread closures for the Queen's funeral in September. There was a surprise fall in retail sales last month as shoppers remained cautious given the squeeze on budgets from inflation in the run-up to Christmas. That could also reflect the impact of travel strikes while a 2.8% dip in online sales possibly included a hit from the bitter, continuing, dispute at Royal Mail.

Retail sales volumes dropped by 0.4% in November after a 0.9% rise in October which had represented a bounce from September when sales were affected by a ...

FILE PHOTO: People with shopping bags walk along Oxford Street illuminated with Christmas lights in London, Britain, November 13, 2021. Compared with a year earlier, retail sales in November were 5.9% lower, the Office for National Statistics said, a slightly steeper fall than forecast in the Reuters poll. Retail sales volumes dropped by 0.4% in November after a 0.9% rise in October which had represented a bounce from September when sales were affected by a one-off public holiday to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth.