Cost of Living Payment - useful information

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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,652 Championing
    There's a further £324 in the Winter for tax credits claimants. You'll also receive £400 in total onto your energy account from October. It will be £66/month from October to March.
    Padraig said:
     will still result in a significant drop in our tight budget.

    You are not alone in that, many thousands or even millions of people will be exactly the same.
  • Padraig
    Padraig Online Community Member Posts: 66 Contributor
    I know poppy, many much worse off than me. I’m lucky enough to have a partner who is my carer and a p/t ICU nurse. I’m retraining as a counsellor to work p/t myself after last back op has really helped.

    I think you can put a submission in for winter fuel payment with your provider in August too?. - every little helps👍
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Other people's struggles do not underplay your own @Padraig. How are you feeling about retraining as a counsellor at the moment? 

    Good luck! If you need anything, please don't hesitate to let us know, we are all here for you. I agree that every little helps  :)
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,652 Championing
    Padraig said:

    I think you can put a submission in for winter fuel payment with your provider in August too?. - every little helps👍
    You will not be entitled to the winter fuel payment because only those of state pension age qualify for that. 
    You maybe confusing this with the warm home discount. The criteria for that has changed this year and if you qualify it will automatically be added to your energy account. You don’t need to apply for it like previous years.
  • Padraig
    Padraig Online Community Member Posts: 66 Contributor
    @poppy123456

    Thanks for your help I’ve been disabled for 15 years and not applied before, the bill is just in my able bodied partners name, maybe I have to make them aware? 

    We were with Scottish power who were bought out by South East Power who have in turn been bought out 3 months ago by the Ovo group!

    I’m confused because my neighbour is also disabled and she is 50 and says she gets winter fuel payment and applies every August. Maybe she just got confused with the terminology.

    Thank you so much for all your time and support👍
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,652 Championing
    Padraig said:

    I’m confused because my neighbour is also disabled and she is 50 and says she gets winter fuel payment and applies every August. Maybe she just got confused with the terminology.


    You're neighbour isn't correct. She can't possibly receive the winter fuel payment because only those of state pension age are entitled to this. She must be talking about the warm home discount but like i said the criteria for that has changed this year.

    Eligibility

    You qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if both the following apply:

    • you were born on or before 25 September 1956
    • you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 19 to 25 September 2022 - this is called the ‘qualifying week’



  • williams94
    williams94 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener

    I feel extremely appreciative that I read this. It is extremely useful and exceptionally enlightening and I truly took in a ton from it.


  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    Thanks for your positive feedback @williams94. It is really positive to hear you feel appreciative and found it useful and enlightening! If we can do anything else to support you, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are all here for you  :)
  • Middleton
    Middleton Online Community Member Posts: 146 Contributor
    Cost of living. I contacted  Disability energy support Advice around 3 weeks ago.. Arranged a phone call app this morning 8:15am-9:15am.. Zero calls came in...Not one missed call. I then received an email from Scope saying an agent tried to call you..

    I then called the advice line at 11:04am (lines open at 11am) to then have the call cut off after being advice that "all of our advisors are busy at the moment"..
     
    What do i do?
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    I'm sorry to hear this @Middleton, I think perhaps when the lines first open things will be very busy, so I'd encourage you to keep trying today if you can. 

    I can let the team know that you're still waiting on a call, but I'm sure they know they need to get in touch.
  • kittykat55
    kittykat55 Scope Member Posts: 25 Contributor
    because of the fact my partner and I are on contribution based ESA and in the support group we are not eligible for the COL payment which seems really unfair as we have loads of family and friends who get more benefits than us and are all getting it. Has anyone else had this happen to them
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,652 Championing
    kittykat55 said:
    because of the fact my partner and I are on contribution based ESA and in the support group we are not eligible for the COL payment which seems really unfair as we have loads of family and friends who get more benefits than us and are all getting it. Has anyone else had this happen to them

    Contributions based isn't means tested so a person could be claiming this regardless of savings/capital and pensions of up to £85/week. There would be no way the Government could check everyones circumstances in such a short space of time.
    Are you and your partner claiming ESA individually?
  • kittykat55
    kittykat55 Scope Member Posts: 25 Contributor
    It is a joint claim as we live together, we have no savings and neither of us can work. I’m sure that there are loads of people out their in the same situation and I don’t mean to sound like I’m moaning about it just seems unfair
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,652 Championing
    edited August 2022
    kittykat55 said:
    It is a joint claim as we live together, we have no savings and neither of us can work. I’m sure that there are loads of people out their in the same situation and I don’t mean to sound like I’m moaning about it just seems unfair

    There's no such thing as a joint claim for ESA. Whoever is the main claimant will be claiming an amount for their partner. Only the main claimant would receive their NI credits.
    It can't possibly be all contributions based because this can't be claimed this way. Contributions based ESA Support Group is £117.60/week and is a single claim. Anything more than this then at least part of it is Income Related.
    If you were entitled to a payment of Income Related ESA for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. Then you should have received the first payment of £326 by the end of July.
    If the amount you're receiving is £117.60/week then it's all contributions based and there's no amount for your partner. Whether you can claim the top up will depend which ESA it is, as advised above.

  • kittykat55
    kittykat55 Scope Member Posts: 25 Contributor
    Sorry that is what I meant to say, I am the the claimant and receive benifit for us both
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,652 Championing
    edited August 2022
    kittykat55 said:
    Sorry that is what I meant to say, I am the the claimant and receive benifit for us both

    Which means at least part of it will be Income Related and your weekly amount will be more than £117.60. (£235.20/fortnight)
    You should have received the first CoL payment of £326 (between you) If you didn't receive it then you can report a missing payment here. https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/report-a-missing-cost-of-living-payment/welcome

  • hass
    hass Online Community Member Posts: 197 Empowering
    Hi  all 
    Does anyone know what date the 2nd COL payment will be issued 
    For ESA INCOME RELATED 

    MANY THANKS
  • bg844
    bg844 Online Community Member Posts: 3,883 Championing
    @hass No date has been announced as of yet, it’ll be Autumn though.
    Keep an eye on this link:
    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment
  • Middleton
    Middleton Online Community Member Posts: 146 Contributor
    Anyone know when the £150 PIP payment is being made?
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Hello @Middleton, it will be paid between 20 September and beginning of October 2022 :)

    You can read more on this thread: Disability Cost of Living Payment if that's helpful.

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