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.

I used to work full time as a Teacher before DS was born and his disabilities became apparent. His father has been awol since he was a baby so it’s all fallen on me.

i Had to give up work in order to be able to care for him. I rely on benefits now, believe me I wish it wasn’t the case.

I wish I was able to just be a parent not a parent carer. I wish I hadn’t had to spend two years shielding him. I wish my life didn’t revolve around appointments and chasing professionals. I wish every night wasn’t disturbed having to sort out feeding pumps. I also know that compared to other carers I have it easy.

people may begrudge people on benefits these payments. For me it means I will be able to afford petrol for his appointments. I will be able to afford to charge his feeding pump. Hey I may even be able to afford a bottle of wine for a Friday night!

very few people rely on benefits out of choice.

@DrBrennerFan they are getting it if they claim PIP or an alternative and UC... and then everyone is getting the 400.

Yet again, people really need to read the thread.

@RiverFlowers My friend and her partner have two kids and earn around £2,500pm between them, and she said that if they earn any more than that they’ll no longer get any help. That’s a renting household with no special circumstances such as sickness, disabilities etc.

Sirzy in the spirit of every little helps do you claim travel costs for appointments?

Every household is getting £400.

That's how I feel, after all it doesn't go far and compared to my previous salary its a drop in the ocean so poor dh has to support me along with the kids, pay almost all household bills etc. If I was able to work I would. I would love to contribute to the household and feel some purpose in life again. But there we go... expected to be supported by someone else. Its shit! After all its me at home all day running up heating costs 🤷‍♀️

That was in reply to @uncomfortablydumb53

It is on my list to look into tomorrow. I haven’t before and assumed I wouldn’t be eligible but someone mentioned it on another thread and given the distance we travel for some clinics it would help a lot

Some disabled childless people will get the full £1500, depending on benefits received and age.

Everybody gets £400.

Anybody reviving PIP or DLA gets an extra £150.

Extra amounts available for pensioners and low income people receiving UC or similar.

From what I understand, those who are in receipt of PIP will get £150.

I suppose one easy and universal way of dealing with this would have been to only increase the price cap a little bit ? Which would have made sense given that the energy companies have made enough to be hit with a windfall tax so big, that they can afford to pay a portion of the entire populations bills ?

You should definitely be eligible. Information about it is here.

Its certainly a worry for disabled, low income and mid income people and their families. I wish there was a solution for everyone. As it is we as parents already skip meals so our kids get a nutrious meal. And it's going to get worse.

Thank you I have just found the form to try and claim back for the last 3 months (thankfully I keep all appointment letters!) and will keep on doing so going forward.

I have a lot of sympathy for the poorest, but I also think these handouts are wrong. I would much rather see action to bring down energy prices and increase wages for the poorest. Not least because I think being dependent on the state is demeaning and entrenches the current problems.

Maybe read the thread. They will get at least £400 plus an extra £150 if on PIP or DLA.

That's bollocks.

I'm a working pensioner with no housing costs and am lucky enough to have fixed my energy bills last year for two years, so no increase for me for another 18 months. Although I can't afford to retire, I can afford my energy bills, at least for now.

When I got my £150 from the council at the start of the month, I wrote a cheque for my local food bank and took it in to them.

I have friends who have done the same, and one couple donated their £150 to a charity event organised by some colleagues, which raised over £2k for local food banks.

It’s a joke. Never anything for those who actually contribute in the majority to society through taxes.

Cant even get a dentist appointment !

🙄

Take your £400 and be glad that you're in a position to contribute.

All households will get £400.

Abd what has dentist appointments got to do with energy cost rises?

You missed the £400 everyone is getting then, plus the council tax £150 the majority have already had. 🙄

Pretty sure those who are disabled would swap their £150 for their disability.

Why aren't you getting the universal £400?

What on earth has a dentist appointment got to do with it? Personally I don't think the amount of taxes someone pays is the absolute measure of how much someone contributes to society, sad if you feel that way. Surely your ire should be directed at the government rather than those doing their best.

I just found this, for those who are considering donating some or all of their energy allowance.

www.fuelbankfoundation.org/