Cost of Living Payment - useful information

[Deleted User]

The fact is expenses have gone up and most people money hasn't. It's simple mathematics. Lots of people were struggling before the COL crisis so things have gotten worst. It's true that plenty of people are managing perfectly fine especially if their expenses were already low, but that's not the case for other people. I'm lucky I only got awarded PIP last December so my money has doubled plus I live extremely cheaply, and don't own a car or buy electronics and my kids live separately to me but again some people have cars, mortgages, kids and don't have extra finances.

Puja

Thank you for sharing Sue

LeicesterLad

Hi guys wondering if someone could answer my question I receive both uc ( lcwra) and PIP I have already received both cost of living payments but just wondering if I'm entitled to anything else? I see people on pip can receive £150 am I entitled to this? Can you receive both payments? Thank you 

poppy123456

LeicesterLad said:

Hi guys wondering if someone could answer my question I receive both uc ( lcwra) and PIP I have already received both cost of living payments but just wondering if I'm entitled to anything else? I see people on pip can receive £150 am I entitled to this? Can you receive both payments? Thank you 

To be entitled to the £150 then you must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) qualifying benefits ( PIP) for 25 May 2022 to get the payment.
When did your PIP claim start? 

LeicesterLad

poppy123456 said:

LeicesterLad said:

Hi guys wondering if someone could answer my question I receive both uc ( lcwra) and PIP I have already received both cost of living payments but just wondering if I'm entitled to anything else? I see people on pip can receive £150 am I entitled to this? Can you receive both payments? Thank you 

To be entitled to the £150 then you must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) qualifying benefits ( PIP) for 25 May 2022 to get the payment.
When did your PIP claim start? 

Hi.. I claimed for pip in January and received my first payment and back pay in June/July.. Hope this helps 

calcotti

You can report a missing payment here
https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/report-a-missing-cost-of-living-payment/welcome

Bobbie99

Hi find totally unbelievable the incumbents and institutions cannot care less about disable people and the necessity they have to look after their health, having to live on the margin of society, as all the money and more go for bills and we do not have anything left to eat, keep warm not to mention enjoy a bit our life. That's why so many struggle mentally. I am setting up a campaign on this and we need to participate all to make the difference. I am not sure if you are aware that Sunak is withdrawing by the human right convention.

kittykat55

Bobbie99 said:

Hi find totally unbelievable the incumbents and institutions cannot care less about disable people and the necessity they have to look after their health, having to live on the margin of society, as all the money and more go for bills and we do not have anything left to eat, keep warm not to mention enjoy a bit our life. That's why so many struggle mentally. I am setting up a campaign on this and we need to participate all to make the difference. I am not sure if you are aware that Sunak is withdrawing by the human right convention.

I completely agree with you, my husband and I are both disabled and have had to max out all our credit cards just to buy food , we rarely put our heating on and struggle to buy food now.

Hannah_Alumni

Struggling to get the food you need must be really tough. We have a page on accessing free food and food banks, which you might find helpful to read. This includes some information on getting free or cheap food without a referral, as well as a with a referral.

Bobbie99

Hi Hannah,

Thank you for suggestions. It will come handy!
Furthermore for disable people should DWPO should release a CARD linked to our NINO where can be easily check if we are a true disable or not without having to beg for discounts.

poppy123456

Bobbie99 said:

Hi Hannah,

Thank you for suggestions. It will come handy!
Furthermore for disable people should DWPO should release a CARD linked to our NINO where can be easily check if we are a true disable or not without having to beg for discounts.

I don't understand why you think someone's NI number should be linked to someone being disabled.

Bobbie99

Hi Hannah,

Because quite few disables get some sorts of benefit and DWP think we are fraudsters and unfortunately this narrative has been often amplified by the MEDIA. In fact they give wide resonance to the rotten apples who fraud, but they never mention that disability allowance, PIP etc... make people starving . Those in government are so filthy rich they could never understand the struggle of those who do not have enough to warm their home or to buy food. In addition with have a law made on purpose to push you out of work, therefore if we do not find a good soul to hire us , our destiny is forever starvation and a rapid deterioration of our health. How fair this can be? 

It seems to me incumbents approach is "heard immunity" where survival is only an option for the strongest, the wealthiest,..etc... for the rest of us we can, sooner rather than later succumb, one person less to pay disability, benefit/pension, NHS, care, ......

johnsonplaid

I read your post. It is very informative and helpful to me. 

poppy123456

Ada said:

I am dreading the new year. Our landlord has put up our rent by £280 I already barely cope having to add £100 to top-up the rent. It’s going to leave me with choosing bills and feeding the meters or food. And I won’t not pay bills. It’s on my mind 24/7. 

That's a ridiculous rent increase! Have you thought about applying to your local Authority for a discretionary housing payment? (DHP) It's not guaranteed and if awarded it's only for a short period of time before you need to reapply but it's definitely worth applying. More details in this link here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

poppy123456

Biblioklept said:

Ada said:

I am dreading the new year. Our landlord has put up our rent by £280 I already barely cope having to add £100 to top-up the rent. It’s going to leave me with choosing bills and feeding the meters or food. And I won’t not pay bills. It’s on my mind 24/7. 

I'd also check whether the amount they've increased it is lawful, there is a cap I believe

There's no cap on rent for privately renting sadly. https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases

The cap only applies to social housing and from April 2023 it was capped at 7%. https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/rent_in_a_council_or_housing_association_home

poppy123456

Biblioklept said:

That sucks and is ridiculous no wonder the rental market is so crazy!!!!! Pure greed in most cases

Yes, i completely agree. What makes it even worse is looking for somewhere else to live is also almost impossible because very few landlords accept DSS tenants. Even if there were LL that accept DSS tenants private rentals are beyond reach because LHA just doesn't cover it.

I'm on the list for social housing and been given medical priority, which for my area means banding doesn't apply. My current house is unsuitable and adaptions can't be done because my LL has refused. The majority of the time i can't even get upstairs.

The only issue is that i can only bid on adapted properties, most weeks there's no adapted properties to bid on. I can't bid on bungalows because i live with my disabled daughter and i'm under 60.

chiarieds

Hmmm as a previous landlord of a single property, which had belonged to family members, in some ways I disagree. We're not all bad guys, & in the last 8 years we had this partially furnished rental property we didn't raise the rent once, so we're not all greedy. 

We were pleased to have a lovely tenant, but when she sadly died due to Covid, her son, who lived in Australia, was a nightmare. I gave him more than a rent free month in which to remove his Mum's possessions; he got someone to dispose of everything, including nearly all of the furniture which was mine, & sadly due to her dementia the property was left in a dire condition (think faeces on the carpet & smeared elsewhere; broken fixtures, bath panel, damaged kitchen units, etc). All the recompense we got was £14.99 for the missing garage lock; not the missing window locks, nor even thoroughly cleaning the property, etc. Her son was unable to come to her funeral (he'd rarely visited his Mum anyway), but wanted some of my family to attend, which they did. 

I was always on the other end of the phone; we replaced light bulbs, replaced a shower that was actually functioning well, unblocked a toilet twice into which she'd put carrier bags, & even fixed squeaky doors, & so much more, all at no cost to herself.

I decided not to carry on renting the property. Thankfully the bungalow sold within a month, but one less property on the private market.

I appreciate how difficult it is to get appropriate social housing, especially if disabled & not 60+. I couldn't believe that there was nothing appropriate for a disabled member in their mid 50s when I looked extensively a few years back. Many disabled people would need a bungalow, even if not currently adapted. At least my bungalow was bought by a son for his 90 year old Dad.

poppy123456

Ada said:

poppy123456 said:

Ada said:

I am dreading the new year. Our landlord has put up our rent by £280 I already barely cope having to add £100 to top-up the rent. It’s going to leave me with choosing bills and feeding the meters or food. And I won’t not pay bills. It’s on my mind 24/7. 

That's a ridiculous rent increase! Have you thought about applying to your local Authority for a discretionary housing payment? (DHP) It's not guaranteed and if awarded it's only for a short period of time before you need to reapply but it's definitely worth applying. More details in this link here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

Thank you loads.  @po@poppy123456 as always. I will do that tomorrow as I struggling with tiredness now. 

Edit. 
Bf just reminded me we applied for that when we have to put half my benefit for top up. And got a no.  But I will try again eight years later and x2 rent increases they may say yes. 

You're welcome. The forms for this are so complex. I remember having help to fill one in many years ago and i was told you need to be every single detail down. Put everything down for what you spend your benefits on, shopping, rent top, energy and all other bills. Please make sure you do not miss anything out.

I usually advise people to get help with those forms because they are so complex but i think this maybe an issue for you, if i'm correct.

Did you ever start a new claim for PIP?

noscere

Oh my good lord! It's reading threads like this that make me ever so thankful that I relocated to Scotland when I did. It's sad to say, but far from being a United kingdom, the UK seems to be one big post code lottery😪.

IIRC, (and I cannot speak for England) landlords have to be registered and are bound by rules, which amongst other things stipulates a maximum rent increase. This might be a percentage, I don't recall off-hand as I am a council tennant it's not something I've paid close attention to.

Housing Benefit
Many people do not realise that they're eligible for housing benefit! Depending upon your income, this can cover up to 100% of your monthly rent! What's more, if you are eligible for any part of your housing costs, you'll also be eligible for council tax benefit.

It's not always made clear when you apply for Universal Credit—since you have to apply seperately. Housing Benefit & Council Tax benefit is administered by your local authority (council), not the DWP. It may be paid by DWP (I have to confirm my housing costs each year through my UC journal) but you apply for it via your local authority.

If you recieve any qualifying benefit—JSA, ESA, Income Support, Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Pension Credits, not an exhaustive list, then you are eligible for housing benefit.

FYI, if you recieve Universal Credit, and are also in paid employment, then you continue to recieve housing benefit even if your Univsersal Credit payment is reduced to zero! The sliding scale for earned income reduces your monetary allowance first, and your housing costs last.

My brother (Merseyside, England) was not aware of the above, and was extremely grateful when I encouraged him and his wife to apply for Universal Credit. They've gone from living around the poverty line to being able to save just enough to have a holiday this year! And during the summer when he was able to earn more money, his Universal Credit went down but his housing cost continued to be paid.

I hope this helps and I pray you'll be able to make ends meet soon.

noscere

Forgot to add—housing benefit covers social landlords AND private landlords. Despite what you might read, it is against the law for private landlords to discriminate against tenants on benefits. In fact, the private landlords I know prefer to have these tenants as they're more likely to be paid! Since the payment comes direct from the government (agency) and not through the tenant. One caveat: depending upon your local authority, the claimant might have to tell the council/DWP to paid their landlord directly. Mine was automatic, but my brother had to instruct them to do this—there was a box, tick to pay landlord direct, on the form he filled out when he claimed.