Category Finances Show all
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Cost of Living Payment
If you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits, you may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living.
If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.
You could get up to 3 different types of payment depending on your circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period:
- a Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying low income benefit or tax credits
- a Disability Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying disability benefit
- a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023
These payments are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.
If you cannot see the payment in your bank, building society or credit union account, you can report it via the GOV.UK website.
If you have financial difficulties, struggle to pay your bills or need help to replace household appliances, we are here to help.
Through our new Helping Hand Fund, which is paid for by the Riverside Foundation as part of our partnership with the Riverside Group, we can provide small grants and other practical short-term support for households up to £500. Please call us on 0300 123 9966 or complete a self-referral form via your MyOneHousing account.
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Helping Hand Fund
If you have financial difficulties, struggle to pay your bills or need help to replace household appliances, we are here to help.
Through our new £500K Helping Hand Fund, which is paid for by the Riverside Foundation as part of our partnership with the Riverside Group, we can provide small grants and other practical short-term support for households. Please call us on 0300 123 9966 or complete a self-referral form via your MyOneHousing account.
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Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before 25 September 1956, you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.
The amount you’ll get will include your ‘pensioner cost of living payment’, ranging between £150 and £300. You’ll only get this extra amount in winter 2022 to 2023.
Please note this is in addition to any ‘Cost of Living Payment’ you’re entitled to. Claims will be accepted until 31 March 2023.
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Do you qualify for the Household Support Fund?
We know that sudden unexpected costs can create real challenges if you’re already experiencing financial difficulties.
To help families, the Government has extended a grant for households, known as the Household Support Fund, to provide short-term financial support to anyone who is struggling to cover essentials such as food, clothing and utilities. It will also be available where existing housing support schemes such as Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and Discretionary Housing Payments can't meet a family or household’s needs.
Please contact your local council directly to find out more about how you can apply and whether you qualify for the additional funds.
You can apply for funding up until 30 September 2022.
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Get help to buy food and milk
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you could get a Healthy Start card to spend on your food.
If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a pre-paid card which you can use to pay for fruit, vegetables, milk and other healthy essentials. It will be topped up every 4 weeks.
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Update your Universal Credit journal account with your new rent and service charges
If you receive Universal Credit to help you pay your rent, please don’t forget to update your Universal Credit journal account on Friday 1 April if you pay monthly or Monday 4 April 2022 if you pay weekly, with your new charges.
You will receive a ‘to-do’ action notification through your Universal Credit account (called the ‘journal’) that will be titled ‘Confirm Your Housing Costs’. Please log in and confirm your housing costs.
If you pay service charges, please ensure you let the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) know which charges are eligible for housing costs support and which charges are not eligible. You can find the details in the Service Charge and Rent Review booklet sent to you last month.
Please don’t make the updates before April 2022 and don’t submit the verification more than once as this will cause issues with your claim. If you have any questions, please contact Universal Credit through your online journal account, or through the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644.
