People in the UK could get a £600 payment each this winter under new government plans
18.05.2022 - 18:25
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
This winter, millions of people could be given a payment of up to £600 towards their heating bills. It comes as many people in the UK struggle to pay their bills due to soaring prices.
The payments will come through as a wam home discount. This scheme is a one-off payment worth £150 that is given to the poorest households to help with energy bills each winter. But officials are also said to have plans for a one-off increase of £300, £500 or even £600, according to The Times.
The newspaper reports that the Chancellor is set to tackle energy bills with a package in July, before focusing on general tax cuts in the autumn. The Treasury has not confirmed plans for a one-off boost to the warm home discount scheme and it is thought to be one of several ideas being poured over to help the cost of living crisis.
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The scheme is now closed for this winter and will open again for October. The warm home discount scheme is currently worth £140 but will increase to £150 in July.
To be eligible for the warm home discount scheme, you normally need to claim the guarantee element of pension credit or other types of benefits. The criteria is changing from July, when an additional 750,000 households who claim housing benefit will be able to claim the one-off payment.
But 290,000 existing claimants with disabilities who only claim personal independence payments, attendance allowance or disability living allowance will no longer get the warm home discount. Under the current rules, you have to apply to your supplier to receive the warm home discount unless you receive the guarantee credit element of pension credit.
But once the shake-up comes in, you'll receive a letter