Mims Davies MP is pleased to share millions of people across the country are set to receive significant cost of living support ahead of Winter, with the government freezing bus fares in England and the second cost-of-living payment – worth £900 in total - landing directly in bank accounts from the 31st October.
Over 8 million households across the UK will also receive the second of up to three payments from 31st October, totalling up to £900 through 2023/24 with a further cost of living payment due to be made to eligible households by Spring next year.
These payments are entirely tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. Those who are eligible will be paid automatically and do not need to apply for the payment or do anything to receive it.
The Government is also committed to helping vulnerable households across the UK with their energy bills over Winter. Winter Fuel Payments – boosted again this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will provide pensioners with up to £600 to help with heating costs over the colder months.
On top of this, nearly three million low-income households are also eligible for a £150 rebate on their Winter electricity bills through the Warm Home Discount. From the 1st November, Cold Weather Payments will also come into effect to provide eligible households £25 extra a week when the temperature is zero or below for more than seven days across the UK.
The Government have also gone further by:
- Increasing benefits in line with inflation, meaning more than 10 million working age families will see an average increase of around £600.
- Maintaining the Triple Lock earlier this year to give around 12 million pensioners the largest ever cash increase to the State Pension.
- Extending the Household Support Fund for another year in England to help families with essential costs with £1 billion of extra funding.
- Increasing the National Living Wage by its largest ever cash amount for 2 million workers – worth over £1,600 to the annual earnings of a full-time worker – and committing to increase it to over £11 an hour from April 2024.
- Cutting fuel duty by 5 pence and freezing the increase, worth £100 to the average driver this year.
- Covering up to 85% of childcare costs for working households on Universal Credit, up from 70% under the legacy system – currently worth over £19,500-a-year for families with two or more children.
Mims Davies MP said:
"I am really pleased to be able to share this Cost of Living Support to help this Winter.
I know Winter can be a challenging period for many families across the country and that’s why this package has been put in place containing immediate support for vulnerable households.
This is along with cutting travel costs through the bus fare cap which was made possible through the Government's long-term decision to cancel phase 2 of HS2. The Government are also providing an extra top up to help pay energy bills and direct payments to cover the cost of day-to-day essentials.
I hope this will be welcome news to many families across the South East and in our Mid Sussex constituency."
