More than 56 percent of low-income households reported not having enough money for either food or heating their home last year, research shows.
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlighted the crippling effects that high energy and food prices had on those on low incomes.
Around £19billionn in benefits is going unclaimed – because people don’t know about them, because they have trouble accessing them and because of stigma.
As the first month of the year comes to a close, Britons are urged to claim what they are entitled to as it could boost their monthly by hundreds.
Here is a brief overview of benefits people can claim in February 2024. This includes the dates to expect cost of living payments, how to find out if one might be eligible for benefits and extra support they might be able to get over the winter period.
DWP benefit payment date in February 2024
With no bank holidays scheduled in February, the payments should be delivered on their expected day. These include:
- Universal Credit
- State pension
- Pension credit
- Disability living allowance
- Personal independence payment
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Employment support allowance
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance
Universal credit is paid monthly by the DWP.
Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment and state pension are paid every four weeks.
Carer’s Allowance, tax credits (from HMRC) and Child Benefit are either weekly or every four weeks. Maternity allowance is either every two weeks or every four weeks.
Income support, employment and support allowance and jobseeker’s allowance are typically every two weeks.
For more information, people can visit the Government website.
Benefits and state pension are set to increase in April 2024.
In his autumn statement, Jeremy Hunt announced that benefits will be increased by the September rate of inflation of 6.7 percent.
He also announced that state pensions would be increased by 8.5 percent, according to the triple lock and wage growth rules.
Cost of living payment date for February 2024
The final cost of living payment of £299 will be paid between February 6, 2024 and February 22, 2024.
People receiving certain benefits or tax credits are eligible for the cost of living payment.
These include:
- Universal Credit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit.
Britons may also qualify for three key support schemes available to people as cold weather hits in the winter months.
Cold weather payment – Individuals can get a payment of £25 if the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.
Warm Home Discount – Those on low incomes, that have high energy costs, could get a one-off £150 payment to help with their bills. People will also qualify if they get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
Winter Fuel Payment – People will automatically qualify for this if they are over the state pension age (66 years old) and live in the UK. The discount grants people between £250 and £600 to help pay their heating bills
