Cost of living

Survey by the National Equine Welfare Council aims to learn of challenges faced by horse owners and keepers.

This includes what steps they might consider if they cannot afford a horse, pony, donkey or mule in the near future. NEWC intends to use the results from the study to produce a publicly available report highlighting the real challenges and concerns of horse owners and keepers, and how the cost of living impacts horse health and wellbeing. It asks a range of questions about the experiences of owners in the face of rising costs and how they may be adapting to cope.

Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has returned from a festive break from social media to share his predictions on when the new £900 cost of living payments ...

No details have been announced for these yet. DWP confirmed that eligible claimants will receive the first two payments this Spring and Autumn with the final lump sum due next Spring. If you receive a text message, email or phone call asking you to apply, it is a scam. The £900 cost of living payment will be paid to eligible households receiving the following qualifying benefits: [Twitter followers](https://twitter.com/MartinSLewis?s=20&t=zC4sPmjbaJ28F7y37oKh4w), Martin predicts that the first payment of £301 will be made after the new financial year begins on April 6, the second for £300 in October or November and the third for £299 before the tax year ends on April 5, 2024. [Department for Work and Pensions](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/dwp-cost-living-payment-schedule-28857740) (DWP) that eligible claimants on means-tested benefits will start receiving the support this Spring.

Isle of Man pensioners, carers and disabled adults could benefit from a £5.6m package of financial help.

The Manx government said the £300 payments, aimed at "protecting the vulnerable", would be distributed to more than 19,000 people in February. A Treasury spokeswoman said the payment - if approved - would be made automatically next month. More than £5m will be paid out to Isle of Man pensioners, carers and disabled adults to help with rising costs if Tynwald backs the move.

The energy giant, which received £90141141 from the Government to give to customers, says the hold up is due to administrative processes.

“Those customers will not miss out on the support,” he added. [record high energy prices](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/12/11/power-prices-surge-record-levels-cold-snap-hits/) during the peak months of the heating season, it’s vital any household struggling to pay their bills gets the support they are entitled to, as soon as possible.” “This is likely the case for most suppliers who are applying the discount in the same way and is the result of the way Direct Debit payments were initiated ahead of the scheme start point and the speed with which the Government and suppliers came together to deliver it,” the spokesman said. [Shell Energy Retail received £90,141,141 from the Government](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/11/09/handed-90m-taxpayers-energy-price-guarantee/) to pass onto its customers in October, The Telegraph has previously reported. [during the winter months](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/eight-million-households-will-fall-behind-bills-winter/) when usage is higher due to colder weather. [subsidising households’ energy bills in October](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/government-energy-bill-rebate-help-pay-how-claim-savings-2022/) to coincide with a sharp rise in the price cap on energy bills. [held to account by the energy regulator Ofgem](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/12/13/ofgem-weighs-price-cap-excessive-power-station-profits/) on all matters relating to their business and service to customers and we have asked them to investigate this matter.” He said the delay affected “a few thousand customers” and stressed the discount would be applied to direct debits in April. Shell Energy Retail said the delay was due to administrative processes and said it had advised Ofgem and BEIS of its plans before the scheme started. “The Government has stringent compliance and enforcement measures in place with all suppliers for the Energy Bills Support Scheme and our expectation is that suppliers pass this discount on to customers promptly,” a spokesman for the business department said. Under one of the two main subsidy schemes, it is paying energy suppliers £66-£67 per customer per month to pass on to customers to cut their bills. Shell has delayed the payment of taxpayer energy bill support payments to thousands of its customers, sparking criticism over its role in the cost of living crisis.

The new £900 cash boost for over eight million eligible benefits claimants, including those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits.

- Third cost of living payment - £299 – Spring 2024. - Second cost of living payment - £300 – Autumn 2023 - First cost of living payment - £301 – Spring 2023 They will be broadly as follows: [£900 cash boost](https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23223776.dwp-reveal-dates-new-1350-cost-living-payments/) for over eight million eligible means-tested benefits claimants, including those on [Universal Credit, Pension Credit and tax credits](https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23223776.dwp-reveal-dates-new-1350-cost-living-payments/), starts in Spring and will go direct to bank accounts in three payments over the course of the financial year. It is part of the next round of cost-of-living support unveiled in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

This payment will me made to those on benefits including Universal Credit, Pensions Credit, tax credits and the Jobseekers Allowance. Separate to that, a ...

"These payments are on top of above inflation increases to working-age benefits and the Energy Price Guarantee, which is insulating millions from even higher global gas prices. The Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has said: “We are sticking by our promise to protect the most vulnerable and these payments, worth hundreds of pounds, will provide vital support next year for those on the lowest incomes. Exact payment dates are set to be announced closer to the time. The DWP has now set out the broad details of when people can expect the support: More than eight million people are eligible to receive additional help due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Last year [ benefit claimants ](https://www.getreading.co.uk/all-about/your-money)received £650 in two payments to help with soaring costs.

Some of the lowest-income households in the country could get up to £1350 in support to help in the new financial year.

If you are eligible for the payments, this will land in your bank account automatically and there is no need for you to apply for the funding. "These payments are on top of above inflation increases to working-age benefits and the Energy Price Guarantee, which is insulating millions from even higher global gas prices. Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride said: "We are sticking by our promise to protect the most vulnerable and these payments, worth hundreds of pounds, will provide vital support next year for those on the lowest incomes. Starting in Spring, the money will go into bank accounts in three different payments over the course of the financial year. Exact days for the payments will be made closer to the time, but to ensure consistent support, it will be spread across a longer period. This will follow up to £1,200 in support for over eight million low-income households in 2022.