THOUSANDS of cash-strapped households are starting to receive their £650 living expenses from today.
The first half of the two-part fund will arrive in bank accounts from today – but not everyone will get it.
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former chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the . at extra money would be distributed as part of a £15 billion emergency package for low-income households.
More than eight million households receives the aid, which is paid in two installments.
The first is worth £326 and will land in bank accounts from July 14 – payments will be staggered from there.
But the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that payment may be arriving late to bank accounts, meaning some will have to wait a few extra weeks.
The DWP says this is because there are millions of payments to be made that cannot all be processed in one day.
people on tax credits are among those who will not receive the first payment until months later.
The much-needed help will come in the fall and the remaining money in the winter – the exact date is not yet known.
People may receive tax credits in addition to other benefits that qualify for the payment of living expenses.
So the payment of £650 to those who tax credits only will be paid out at a later date to avoid double payments.
HMRC has told The Sun that 1.1 million people with tax credits will be waiting for the first payment, and a similar number will again have to wait longer for their second payment.
How do I know if I am eligible for the £650 benefit?
Aside from having tax credits, you must receive one of the following:
- Pension credit
- income support
- Income-related benefit for job seekers
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
if you’re on Universal credit you could also qualify.
To receive the first payment due on July 14, you must have requested the above between April 26 and May 25 of this year.
If you qualify, the second payment of £324 will be made in the fall, with an exact date to be confirmed.
For more information on how to claim Universal Credit, click here†
Financing available NOW
Some low-income households may qualify for a discount on their municipal taxes account.
You could cut your bill down to zero, and with the average tire D house bill of £1,898, that could be a significant saving.
Find out what you could get in our guide.
There’s also an option to claim up to £150 if you can’t get a council tax credit, read about that here†
Even if you are struggling to pay your energy bill, there are plenty of schemes available. You can get £750 to pay your bills, and you don’t have to pay it back either.
Some schemes include:
Contact your supplier directly to see what they offer, the eligibility requirements and how much you can get.
If you don’t know who your supplier is, you can find out here†
As for the municipal funds, Household Support Fund helps families with the rising cost of living, is comprehensive.
This aid can include monetary grants to pay bills or cover food costs – the aid depends on where you live.
For example, residents of Blackpool can get as much as £300, depending on their circumstances.
Contact your local council.