Cost of Living Support

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The Government has announced a series of measures to help residents through the cost of living pressures we are currently experiencing...

Please find below a summary of all the support which is being offered to residents throughout this time, as well as useful local and national links for those who need additional help. As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if there is anything I can do to help at chris.heatonharris.mp@parliament.uk. 

The Growth Plan

The Chancellor announced on Friday 23rd September a number of measures which will help create jobs, increase wages and encourage investment. You can read the full Growth Plan here or read the below highlights which will directly benefit Daventry residents.

The tax cuts and expected savings through the Energy Price Guarantee means that in the year from April, a typical person in a semi-detached property will save £1,150 on household energy bills- and if they are earning £30,000 almost an additional £400 on tax. This is around £1,550 in total. 

  • Cutting Stamp Duty Land Tax , abolishing it below £250,000 and below £425,000 for first-time buyers. 
  • Cutting the basic rate of Income Tax from 20p to 19p and abolishing the 45p additional rate from April 2023 
  • Cutting National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points from 6 Nov and cancelling the Health and Social Care Levy. This will save workers money and free up £9,600 on average for businesses to invest and grow.
  • Keeping Corporation Tax at 19% and cancelling the planned increase to 25%. 
  • Freezing alcohol duty from February 2023.


Energy Bills Relief Scheme

  • ALL households to receive a £400 grant as part of Energy Bills Support Scheme
  • £650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for those on means tested benefits
  • £300 one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
  • £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
  • £500m increase to Household Support Fund so Councils can provide targeted support to those in need.

This is in addition to £150 Council Tax rebate for households in Council Tax bands A-D and will benefit almost all of the 8m most vulnerable households across the UK. You can find out more details about each of the schemes (and how you might be eligible) below.

Energy Bills Support Scheme

  • Households will receive a one-off £400 to support with their energy bills. 
  • Energy suppliers will provide this support to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. Direct debit and credit customers will have the money credited to their account, while those with pre-payment meters will have the money applied to their meter. 

Cost of Living Payment 

  • More than 8 million vulnerable households will receive a payment of £650 in two instalments (first in July, the second in the autumn). This payment is tax-free and will count towards the benefit cap. This will apply to those on: 
    • Universal Credit
    • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • Income Support
    • Working Tax Credit
    • Child Tax Credit
    • Pension Credit

Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

  • Pensioner households will receive an extra £300 as a one-off payment. Eligible households currently receive between £200-300 through the Winter Fuel Payment so this will be at least double the support this winter. 
  • You are eligible for this payment if you are over State Pension age (66 or above) between 19-25 September 2022. 
  • It is important that you check or tell a loved one to check if they are eligible for Pension Credit. You can find out via the Government's online checker here or call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469.

Disability Cost of Living Payment 

  • Around 6 million people who receive the below disability benefits will receive a one-off payment of £150 this September:
    • Disability Living Allowance
    • Personal Independence Payment
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Armed Forces Independence Payment
    • Constant Attendance Allowance
    • War Pension Mobility Supplement
  • For disability benefit recipients who receive means tested benefits, this £150 will come on top of the £650 they will receive separately and not count towards the benefit cap. 

Household Support Fund

  • The Household Support Fund is being increased by £500 million to ensure Councils and Local Authorities can support those struggling with the cost of food, energy and water bills. 
  • West Northamptonshire Council will distribute £2,599,628 from DWP to support the most vulnerable households with school meal vouchers, support for those receiving pension credit, and support for households experiencing extreme financial hardship. You can read more about how to access this support here. 
  • North Northamptonshire Council will also distribute support for households in need. Find out more here. 

Benefits

  • It is always worth checking to see if you are eligible to claim benefits. This could include Universal Credit and Housing Benefits, a Council Tax Hardship payment, or a Council Tax reduction. Find out more on the Council's website here and on GOV.UK here. 

Alternative Fuel Households

I know that a number of houses (particularly in the villages) are not served by the gas grid and use alternative fuels, such as heating oil, LPG, coal or biomass. These households are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the Energy Price Guarantee, however the Government is doubling its support to £200. This support will be delivered as soon as possible this winter. 

Community Support

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