Some families to get a total of £1,200 cash, to support with cost of living crisis.

[flashbac]

Highlights:
All families can now keep the 200 quid energy payment, no longer repayment based. This will be topped up to £400.
Low income families to get £650 straight into bank account.
(Non means tested) disabled benefit recipients to get £150.
All in all some will receive total of £1,200.
Funded by windfall tax.

Thanks! That'll help a little!

@saraclara people can just donate the 400 pounds over six months to wherever they feel necessary that will help those who are struggling.

For people wanting to donate Martin Lewis suggested National Energy Action, a lot of food banks also support people in adding credit to their account.

Of course. But if there was a well publicised and simple way to do so, that ensured that it went to the little who need it, for the purpose that it's intended, it might encourage others like me to donate.
I'm do it myself, whatever, but publicity, a website, social media etc from an organisation would make others think you did the same. I don't have that kind of influence alone.

that it went to the little who need it

That it went to the PEOPLE who need it, even

At the risk of sounding thick as mud - are all these payments going to be in October, or are the payments for more vulnerable/pensioners etc coming sooner?

You’re actually a textbook example of how some people on £40k+ still qualify for some amount of benefits (and a good case study for those complaining).

The four biggest “risk factors” for poverty are 1)having young children, 2) experiencing disability in the family, 3) renting, & 4) old age.

So you tick three of those, unfortunately. Sorry to hear about the new disability - it sounds quite sudden. I know it’s a shock. I hope things improve for you.

Unfortunately not all pensioner households will get the extra £300, which most of the media have failed to mention. It's only payable if you are already eligible for winter fuel payments. My birthday falls just after the cut off date to qualify for that so despite being a pensioner I'm entitled to f all. Not amused.

That's very unfair

List of qualifying benefits for the £600

If these women are on low incomes they would qualify under UC perhaps?

For those looking for food banks to donate to;

www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/our-members

@Sirzy hi, where are you liking there for your info? I want to read up on it.

@saraclara well we could start something? But not organise the payments - but at least start a wider campaign / advertisement with the idea... ?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

I would just like to add something to the frothers on here

I am disabled and on UC and I get £55 TOTAL a WEEK to try and live on after rent. This £55 is my total income, nothing else. My dad is a carer and gets the grand sum to live on of £67 a week

They are giving this money to people like me because if they don't, with the massive rises - people WILL starve and people WILL freeze. It's that simple

Some people always grudge the poorest getting help

But absolutely, give up your jobs to go on benefits..

The £650 would pay for a lot of those 30p dinners.

I don't understand giving it across the board. Why on earth should low earning (or even middle income) tax payers be funding payments to people like my parents, whose greatest concern in life currently is avoiding inheritance tax?

Just to be very clear; National Energy Action are a lobbying and advice organisation. They campaign on a macro scale and they advise individuals where to seek help (much like the organisation I work for- I’m not criticising). They don’t disburse funds.

So it’s a good choice if you want to support energy reform, less so if you want your donation to contribute to the energy bills of those struggling.

@Smartsub it's being funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies operating in the UK, not by working people.

My husband doesn't work, gets carers allowance for me,but he does get a works pension-this is the reason we can't claim any means tested benefits.
And we're ok with that. We have enough to get by.

If what you are saying is that PIP, C/A and ESA is all you are getting, then you definitely should get that looked at.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022

Tax payers aren't funding it. The energy companies are, through the windfall tax.

And as has been said several times in this thread, means testing the pensioners winter allowance would be so incredibly expensive in admin, that it's deemed less expensive to just pay everyone.

Maybe encourage your parents to do what I plan to do, and to donate it somehow to benefit those who do need it.

It is much, much cheaper and quicker to grant it to large swathes of prequalified individuals than to target it more closely or require applications. So there is a large upside to this method.

Also it will catch some hard up people for the £400, who otherwise fall through the cracks. You can see how many people on the thread are struggling and disappointed

Thirdly, he’s a Tory and he’s electioneering.

So two good reasons for not means testing further, and one political one. 🤷🏻‍♀️