To think some might spend £650 energy payment on other things?

[Hemklop]

I'm prepared to get flamed here, as I know the benefits system is a touchy subject.

However, I was just wondering whether many people will not use the £650 lump sum payment for it's true purpose, given that it's the summer holidays and there are lots of temptations to spend on other things.

These people then won't be any better off when it comes to the winter?

🙄

And people using it for other things would be a problem because?

You can’t make rules based on a feckless few when the majority of people will carefully use this to heat their homes, feed their families and survive this winter

I absolutelty think the timing is wrong.
For any person with money management issues, this is potentailly money down the ( helpful) drain potentailly .

Well yes, some people might need to use it to help feed their children, buy new school uniforms etc.. it’s none of your business what they spend it on

Is there a lump sum payment? I was under the impression it was in two instalments.
It's a cost of living payment, not just for energy bills.
Oh, and

Those other things come out if an overall budget as does their energy bill. If people choose to spend it on something they weren't originally going to buy it's still up to them to pay their own bill. How is any of that a problem for you?

Simonjt because
Its meant to help for heating

I'll be using it to pay off the remainder of my council tax in full, so that I don't have to keep logging in every month to make that payment. I'm not sure how this means I'll be no better off in the winter months though, I won't be spending money on council tax in the winter months so could I not spend that money on my gas and electric?

Oh no, the plebs can't budget 🙀

And?

So long as the heating bills are paid, does it really matter if it's spent on other things?

🙄

So? Its a cost of living payment, people can spend it as they please. Heating isn’t much use if you can’t buy school uniform for your children, or food for dinner.

What a strage question, if course people will use it for diffeent things

Why would millions of people all act in the same way? Money is money, it's not marked in some way tied to energy

It's like the people who thin child benefit must literally be spent on the child

I thought it was coming off the energy bills in 6 instalments, so won't actually be received as a lump sum. It goes directly to the energy companies who adjust your bill accordingly.

It is a cost of living payment in 2 installments. People on Tax credits won't get their first payment until the autumn. What they spend it on is the business of the people who get the payments.

Do you similarly worry about the pensioners spending their winter fuel payment on other things?

That's the £400 energy bill payment, not the same thing.

It's not an energy payment - the £400 the entire nation gets toward their energy costs is an energy payment.

The £650, is paid in two instalments. Some don't even get their first payment until September, and it's literally titled "cost of living payment" - so they won't be spending it on the wrong thing, will they? The cost of living has inflated by a fuck load.

Once again, a subtle benefit bashing thread, sugar coated in "concern".

Even the government said it was meant to help with the cost of living crisis and gave examples such as rising cost of food and heating.

*Is there a lump sum payment? I was under the impression it was in two instalments.

It's a cost of living payment, not just for energy bills.*

Literally everything NewBoots said. That’s how I know you won’t be receiving the payment because it’ll be coming in two instalments, not just one payment. It’s also for the cost of living so if people want to spend the money on food shopping, new school uniform, to pay off other bills etc how is it any of your business?

Do people need your permission for what you deem worthy on whether they can spend the money or not? What’s wrong with people on MN lately. Why don’t you focus on yourself and mind the business that pays you

Wind your neck in, it’s none of your business.

Its a cost of living payment not an energy payment. So it can go towards food, clothes, petrol and other living expenses too.

More benefit bashing on mumsnet here we go. I will be getting it and putting about half of it in savings, in case my washing machine or fridge freezer or something suddenly goes. Come October we will have very little spare income, so it'll be useful in that situation.

Of course they will.

I used to work with benefit claimants and a lot of them have no idea about budgeting.

Then there will be the pensioners - those who use each year's winter fuel payment for other purposes.

I'd have to get it before I can spend it on anything at all.

I know I'm legible as I've been contacted (this is for the council tax portion? Approx £200, choice to offset against CT account or to have in my account. I'm in credit for CT so choose to have it in my account). I had to fill out a form to claim it. Then they contacted me to verify my bank details and I've chased them twice as its been 6 weeks now?

I don't even know about the "other" payments and how I receive them?

I should receive the fuel credit against my monthly DD but not sure if this is separate from the elusive £650 payment?

(We work but are a low income family with a disabled DC and recieve some top up of housing benefit and DLA for child)