Cost of living

Chris Pitt, chief executive of First Direct, the UK's first ever telephone bank, tells presenter Claer Barrett why banks should be doing more to help ...

Produced by Persis Love. Presented by Claer Barrett. If you would like to talk to Claer about a future episode, please email the Money Clinic team at [email protected] with a short description of your problem, and how you would like us to help.

Photographers, stylists and other creatives working across fashion — many in freelance roles — say they have to work harder to make ends meet.

“The volume of content needed by clients across the board for their digital requirements and social channels is rising,” says Jessica Bradbury, founder of Thursday’s Child, a platform that partners unrepresented photographers, filmmakers and digital creators from across the world with global brands on commercial projects. In order to break into the industry, creatives have traditionally been expected to finance editorial and personal work to build up a portfolio, and well-paid jobs typically come long after they have developed a distinct personal style and received editorial recognition. “When the turnaround times for getting paid are slow, and the cost of living is getting more expensive, it’s hard to keep [finances] balanced.”

The payment of £900 will be given to people claiming certain benefits and will be paid directly into their bank account.

While those with disabilities who are in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will be paid an extra £150. Those who qualify for means-tested low-income benefits will see the money paid directly into their bank accounts. The first instalment is £301. It will be paid in three instalments throughout the year. However, it was recently revealed that those on contribution-based The payment of £900 will be given to people claiming certain benefits and will be paid directly into their bank account.

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Almost 551000 Universal Credit claimants missed out on the first cost of living payment of £326 last summer because of a 'nil award'

It also means that Universal Credit claimants in work may be able to qualify for one or more of the payments, especially if they don't always receive a 'nil award'. Almost 551,000 Universal Credit claimants missed out on the first cost of living payment of £326 last summer because of a nil award. This means that claimants will need to be in receipt of Universal Credit, along with their non-qualifying benefit to receive the first payment of £301 in a few weeks. Here is more information around who isn't eligible and why, as well as the upcoming payment schedule and how to check... [eight million families](https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/dwp-cost-living-payments-8-8124759) were expected to receive the first £301 payment this spring. [The Daily Record reports](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/new-cost-living-payment-eligibility-29151881) that the first of the payments will be made to claimants on qualifying benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, adding that the gov.uk guidance indicates that eligibility for the 2023/24 cost of living payments will follow the same criteria as last year.

Universal Credit; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance; Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Income Support; Pension Credit; Working Tax Credit - paid ...

Over eight million people of State Pension age will receive a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment added to their annual Winter Fuel Payment. “This payment comes on top of extensive [UK] Government support with the cost of living, including six million disabled people having been paid a separate £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment,” she explained. Below is the payment schedule from DWP. In total, pensioner households could get an income boost of £1,350 during 2023/24. Over the course of the financial year, payments totaling up to £1,350 will be made to those most vulnerable to cost increases, reports [current cost of living crisis](https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/), many people will be feeling the purse strings tighten.

People on Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits will be eligible.

[Mims Davies](/topic/mims-davies) MP, minister for social mobility, youth and progression, was asked to explain the rationale behind the decision in a written query from Labour’s Dame [Angela Eagle](/topic/angela-eagle) MP, who wanted to know “for what reason the department has decided that those in receipt of contribution-based Employment Support Allowance and who do not receive Universal Credit are not eligible for Cost of Living Support payments?” [Universal Credit](/topic/universal-credit), [Pension Credit](/topic/pension-credits) and [Tax Credits](/topic/tax-credits) will be eligible for the three tranches of Cost of Living Support but this will not be true for all benefits recipients, only for those whose payments are means-tested. [benefits](/topic/benefits) claimants will receive the new £900 [Cost of Living](/topic/cost-of-living) Support payments from the [Department for Work and Pensions](/topic/department-for-work-and-pensions) (DWP), a government minister has confirmed.

The Department of Work and Pensions have confirmed the first two payments will be made in Spring and Autumn 2023.

The payments will be tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. He suggests the first instalment of £301 will fall after the tax year - April 6 - and the autumn payment of £300 would be in October or November. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed the first two payments will be made in Spring and Autumn 2023, but exact dates are yet to be confirmed. The DWP announced that eligible claimants on means-tested benefits will receive a £900 cost of living payment split into three payments - £301, £300 and £299. Mr Lewis added that the payments are in different amounts instead of being split evenly, so it is easier to pinpoint any problems with payments. It confirmed the first two payments will be made this Spring and Autumn with the final sum due in Spring 2024.

A government minister has confirmed that not all benefits claimants will receive the new cost of living support payments, which are intended to help UK ...

£300 will be going out to eight million pensioners to help boost their Winter Fuel Payment and another £150 will be available in the form of a disability support payment. With this, those who receive contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will not be eligible, a benefit that was claimed by more than 1.7 million people last year, according to data from the DWP. This will be followed by another £300 in the autumn and a further £299 in the spring of next year, with more precise dates expected to be announced later. A government minister has confirmed that not all benefits claimants will receive the new cost of living support payments, which are intended to help UK households meet their energy bill commitments and cope with rising inflation. "Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit. [a total of £1,350 in additional state support](https://www.mylondon.news/news/cost-of-living/dwp-confirms-1350-cost-living-26196186) will be made available to the public to help cope with rising inflation and the energy crisis.

Island households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR) on 31st January will receive a letter after 13th February with important information about how to ...

We have heard first-hand how the card is providing vital support to eligible households, enabling them to buy essential items. With costs much higher than the UK average, many residents are struggling. Our island residents are seeing a significant increase in costs with many goods and services more expensive than the mainland. Find out more about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme The council are issuing 1,244 cards worth just under £150,000 in total to eligible households. Island households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR) on 31st January will receive a letter after 13th February with important information about how to activate the card.

Those who qualify for the payment include those on universal credit, pension credit and tax credits. However, it was recently revealed that those on ...

The first payment of £301 will be paid in April. While those with disabilities who are in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will be paid an extra £150. Those on qualifying means-tested low-income benefits will be sent the money directly to their bank account. The £900 payment is given to those claiming certain [benefits ](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/thousands-more-parents-eligible-dwp-26198519)directly into their bank account. However, it was recently revealed that those on contribution-based employment and support allowance (ESA) will not be eligible. The first payment of £301 is expected to be paid in Spring 2023.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Income Support; Pension Credit; Working Tax Credit - paid by HMRC if no other DWP means-tested benefit is also ...

More than eight million people of State Pension age will receive a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment added to their annual Winter Fuel Payment. “This payment comes on top of extensive [UK] Government support with the cost of living, including six million disabled people having been paid a separate £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment,” she explained. Below is the payment schedule from DWP. In total, pensioner households could get an income boost of £1,350 during 2023/24. [Universal Credit](https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/all-about/universal-credit), Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive the first payment for £301 automatically in the next few months without any need to apply. The payment is set to be issued in three instalments, with the first this spring. Over the course of the next financial year, payments totalling up to £1,350 will be made to those most vulnerable to cost increases. So those on Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will not be eligible, 'Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non means tested benefit. - £301 - first payment to be made during Spring 2023 - £150 - this one-off payment will be made during Summer 2023 Contribution-based ESA is a non means-tested benefit.

Income-related employment and support allowance; Income support; Pension credit; Working tax credit; Child tax credit. Just like the previous £650 support from ...

[ issuing a range of payments](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-of-living-payments-2023-how-much-dwp-support-600-this-year-explained-2103076?ico=in-line_link) this year to support the UK families who are hardest hit by the ongoing [cost of living crisis](https://inews.co.uk/topic/cost-of-living-crisis?ico=in-line_link). [£900](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/cost-of-living-payment-when-col-support-how-paid-spring-2023-who-gets-2061466?ico=in-line_link) will be paid to [people who receive any of the following benefits ](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/who-eligible-cost-living-payment-money-spring-2023-2137045?ico=in-line_link)(you can [see the full criteria here](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-low-income-households-to-get-new-cost-of-living-payments-from-spring-2023)): [a new £900 cost of living payment](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-of-living-payment-dates-2023-when-900-col-grant-will-paid-who-support-spring-2061330?ico=in-line_link), the successor [to the £650 ](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-of-living-payment-will-get-who-eligible-second-col-grant-324-how-qualify-1958373?ico=in-line_link)for [people on means-tested benefits](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-of-living-payment-who-get-eligibility-650-grant-tax-credits-explained-1828831?ico=in-line_link) paid across [ two instalments last year](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) – here’s [ who is eligible to claim it](https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/cost-of-living-payment-900-who-get-spring-2023-when-col-paid-eligibility-explained-2062535?ico=in-line_link). [8 million families in the UK on means-tested benefits will receive the cost of living payment](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-living-payment-2023-when-dwp-expected-support-eligible-2127695?ico=in-line_link). “HMRC will communicate payment dates and eligibility dates for each Cost of Living Payment for tax credit-only customers.” [These measures](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/cost-of-living-payment-dates-2023-when-900-col-grant-will-paid-who-support-spring-2061330?ico=in-line_link) follow on from [a similar series grants last year,](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) and were first announced as part of [Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/what-autumn-statement-me-new-cost-living-payments-council-tax-increases-1976740?ico=in-line_link) in November.

The DWP has explained why people on Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will not be eligible for any of the means-tested payments.

“This payment comes on top of extensive [UK] Government support with the cost of living, including six million disabled people having been paid a separate £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment,” she explained. Below is the payment schedule from the DWP. In total, pensioner households could get an income boost of £1,350 during 2023/24. Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies, clarified that the new £900 cost of living payment is being targeted at low income households in receipt of a “means-tested income replacement benefit” - Contribution-based ESA is a non means-tested benefit. Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance is a non means tested benefit. Claimants on qualifying benefits, including

Those who qualify for the payment include those on universal credit, pension credit and tax credits. However, it was recently revealed that those on ...

The first payment of £301 will be paid in April. While those with disabilities who are in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will be paid an extra £150. The first payment of £301 is expected to be paid in Spring 2023. Those on qualifying means-tested low-income benefits will be sent the money directly to their bank account. The payments, paid in three instalments throughout the year, will be given to people on low-income benefits. Extra payments will also be made to pensioners and those with disabilities.