People are being alerted to help they could get this year to deal with the cost of living.
Whether you’re living solo or with a family, the cost of living crisis is hitting many households hard. Essential bills such as heating and food shopping have seen a significant increase. On top of that, mortgage rates have also risen, meaning households are having to tighten their belts even further as monthly payments go up. Inflation hit the Bank of England’s 2 percent target in June for the first time in three years, but then rose to 2.2 percent in July, where it stayed in August – a rise attributed to gas and electricity prices falling less than they did the previous year.
Research from The Trussell Trust in September revealed nearly half of those on Universal Credit ran out of food the previous month – and the situation isn’t expected to improve anytime soon with the charity reporting 68 per cent of these households also struggled to afford essentials over the past six months, according to The Independent.
The new Labour government has committed to addressing the root causes of this issue. Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, stated that the DWP will concentrate on combating “economic inactivity,” with a new ‘Back to Work’ plan designed to increase employment.
In October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil her first budget with experts predicting announcements of tax increases and spending cuts. The prime minister warned in August that people would need to “accept short-term pain for long-term good” cautioning that October’s Budget will be “painful” and the government will have to make “big asks” of the public.
In a bid to help people feel less finanical strain, there are some benefits you could get – and there’s a way to check what you could be entitled to. Here is what you need to know.
What benefits can I get this year?
Each benefit of course depends on your personal financial situation as well as, in some cases, your age, your health and where you live. Benefits that you may be able to get include:
- Universal Credit
- State pension
- Pension credit
- Child benefit
- Disability living allowance
- Personal independence payment (PIP)
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Employment support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
State pension payment schedule – How and when you’ll get yours
As we previously reported, in order be eligible for the state pension, you must reach the state pension age, which is currently set at 66 for both women and men. However, there are planned increases you need to know about. It means that from 2026 to 2028, the age will go up to 67 for those born on or after April 1960, and a further increase to 68 is scheduled between 2044 and 2046 for individuals born on or after 1977.
The amount of pension you receive depends on your National Insurance Contributions (NICs) during your working life. To receive the full new state pension, you need at least 35 qualifying years of contributions, and you need at least 10 years to receive any pension.
For those who reached state pension age before April 2016, 30 years of contributions are required for the full basic state pension. For those yet to reach state pension age, the government provides an online tool to check your state pension forecast, which includes the amount you might receive, when payments will start, and any potential increases.
What day is the state pension paid?
The new state pension is typically paid every four weeks with payments are made in arrears for the previous four weeks, which explains why the increased payments for April will not be fully received until May. The specific day you receive your payment is determined by your National Insurance number, but if it falls on a bank holiday, you may receive your pension earlier, says GOV.UK.
| Last two digits of your National Insurance number | Payment day of the week |
|---|---|
| 00-19 | Monday |
| 20-39 | Tuesday |
| 40-59 | Wednesday |
| 60-79 | Thursday |
| 80-99 | Friday |
Can I get any other financial help?
You may be able to get help depending on who your energy provider is. Just this week, Octopus sent an email to their customers, reminding them that they may be able to claim £150 as part of the Warm Home Discount payment. Depending on who you are with, it’s worth looking on their website or giving them a call to see how they can help you.
You can also get a council tax discount if you live alone. You may even be able to get a discount if you’re a student or older person. You can check on the gov.uk website here how you can get a reduced payment.
You can find out what support you might be able to get to help with your living costs. You can get benefits and other financial support if you’re eligible. For a full list, you can check benefits and other financial support you can get via the gov.uk website here.
