How is the cost of living crisis impacting you?

Lisatho11987777

It gets paid into your bank by universal credit 

Kennym2022

Having to go couple days without food every week sometimes no electric for a day or so and by time anyone contacts you with help it's to late as your next payment has went in.  Also not getting cost if living oayment is kick in the teeth 

Tori_Scope

That sounds like a stressful to be in @Kennym2022 Are you claiming all of the benefits to which you're entitled? If you're not sure what you may be eligible to claim, you could try using an online benefits calculator (Turn2Us). 

If you're struggling with your energy bills, you could try seeing whether our Disability Energy Support service could be of help. 

We also have some pages on our website about getting free food and using food banks. 

Do you have any friends or family members in your support network who could help you out during this challenging time?

Kennym2022

The assessment period for the cost of living right at the start if that month I received holiday pay plus ssp for other few weeks which meant I got no payment that assessment period by time deductions where made which means I don't qualify find it rather ridiculous as I got no money last month cause of it and my ssp has stopped ill be ok as on 20th of July my lcwra starts going in I have pip assessment on next week.  Yes I have been referred for a food bank now by my doctor 

poppy123456

Kennym2022 said:

The assessment period for the cost of living right at the start if that month I received holiday pay plus ssp for other few weeks which meant I got no payment that assessment period by time deductions where made which means I don't qualify find it rather ridiculous as I got no money last month cause of it and my ssp has stopped ill be ok as on 20th of July my lcwra starts going in I have pip assessment on next week.  Yes I have been referred for a food bank now by my doctor 

Did those deductions take into consideration your work allowance at that time? You can check back on your statement and it will tell you if it did or not.

The work allowance means an amount of earnings will be ignored before the 55% deductions apply. If you claim for help with the rent the WA will be £344/month, if you don't then it's £573/month. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

Kennym2022

Work made me take my last 8 days holiday at once was thousand pound I don't get housing benefit as technically living with a friend atm. Yes I no thousand is a lot of money but it has had to last me for over couple months which isn't much when I owe a lot out.  Yes I. Currently paying a budget loan off which they take 24 pound off me and paying an advance which is 13.99 I asked work coach on jounal and said I wouldn't get this payment because I got nothing in the assessment period 26th April to 25th May 

thara9643

I have not done my nails since January. More recently I have noticed that the overall cost of petrol has increased somewhat. In order to afford the cost of owning Milo, I had to stop all of my non essential shopping trips in town. In other simpler words I no longer visit a local coffee shop once a week for a slice of cake and a interesting and simulating chat. I make tasty cakes at home now in order to help to save me some more money. Since the first ever public nationwide lockdown I have changed my spending habits a lot. 

SueHeath

I also changed my spending habits since the lock downs @thara9643 and i still carry on with it. I used to go to the town food shopping at the least 3 times a week and i would be tempted to buy foods that wasn't needed or just pure indulgence. Lock down came and we started to plan our meals and only shopped for food once a week. We have carried this on as we did find it helped us save money.
It's a shame you have stopped your coffee shop visit though as it sound like you had a nice social occasion there.

Amberpearl

Morning 
Still not had the cost of living payment 

poppy123456

Amberpearl said:

Morning 
Still not had the cost of living payment 

You are not the only one. It can be paid anytime up to 31st July. My daughter hasn't had hers yet either.

Amberpearl

I'm. Just a worrier 

janer1967

I doubt many will have it today as nobody will have been working at the weekend to process it 

poppy123456

janer1967 said:

I doubt many will have it today as nobody will have been working at the weekend to process it 

Some may have, if payments were processed on Thursday. BACS payments take 3-5 working days to go into your bank. The CoL payment is being administered by central Government, not by DWP.

poppy123456

Penybont said:

poppy123456 said:

Amberpearl said:

Morning 
Still not had the cost of living payment 

You are not the only one. It can be paid anytime up to 31st July. My daughter hasn't had hers yet either.

Same here if you phone up my local council and press 0 you get a automated message about the cost of living it stated all letter will be sent out by the end of June. Still no letter or email manage to get them on the phone now they say I have to wait a week for the letter, but still don’t know why a letter was not issued in the first place.

This is not the cost of living payment because it's not administered by your Local Authority. You are talking about the £150 council tax rebate.

BrianMcFaddenfan07

My fiance was double checking my appointment time with my work coach next month and he found a notification on my UC account saying the same thing, but there wasn't any mention of a letter.
I've had letters from my doctors quicker than I've had them from UC 

janer1967

@poppy123456 thanks for correction didn't think about that one very much did I 

Amberpearl

I need that money I've nothing 

janer1967

I know you need it @Amberpearl but don't blow it all at once after you get it as it is a while.till you will get the next cost of living payment so you should save some ready for increased bills etc 

Amberpearl

I don't know what day I will get it

Lisatho11987777

Not being rude but if we are entitled  it goes into your account by the end of July no disrespect but its money we wouldn't of had if the government hadn't said they were going to pay us this money it is a bonus if we are eligible 

I got in touch with my energy company the water the counciol tax bt and my ee  to help with the cost of liveing problems 

I am now on bt home essentials 20.00 a month unlimited everything if your on a qualifying benefit you can get this  my gas and electric has  been reduced to 46 00 a week instead of 75 00  my water is now 39 00 a month and still waiting for counciol tax 

The cost of liveing payment is a bonus to help us out but people also need to help their self the payment is 326.00 its not alot of money compared to what in reality we have to pay out that amount foesnt even cover my rent but I will be able to pay all my bills by only makeing it up by 500.00 this month I will have money left which is a bonus for me so I will keep it back so I have money to fall back on