Millions to get up to £1,700 in cost of living direct payments and benefit help – how to claim

MILLIONS of hard-up households could soon be getting a cash pay out of up to £1,700 to help with rising bills.

Half of a £650 cost of living payment will soon hit bank accounts form next week for those getting Universal Credit and some other benefits.

But there's plenty more help you can get too ranging from bill discounts to help with food and water bills.

How much you get depends on your circumstance. The maximum a household can get if £1,700 - but you have to qualify for the help.

Some payments are automatic and others you need to apply for.

Here's how you can get the £650 cost of living payment and all the support you can claim through the cost of living crisis.

Check this list of payments to make sure you don't miss out.

£650 cost of living payment

Eight million households on means-tested benefits will get a £650 cost of living payment.

The payments will automatically go to everyone on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income support, Pension Credit, working tax credit and child tax credit.

The Department for Work and Pensions will make the payment in two lump sums, These are both tax-free and won't affect your benefits, or count towards the benefit cap.

The first will come from July 14 as a separate payment to your normal benefit amount, and then a second installment will follow some time in Autumn.

You will need to be on eligible benefits or have begun a successful claim which is later, as of May 25 2022 to get the first payment.

If you have a joint claim with a partner, both of you will get one payment of £650.

It's not the only cost of living payment you might get this year.

You don't need to do anything to claim this one.

Every household in the UK will be given £400 to help cover spiralling energy bills, which are set to rise by hundreds of pounds more this winter.

Pensioners will get an extra £300 one-off payment during the coldest months, and six million people with disabilities will receive £150 in September.

£150 disability cost of living payment

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in May that six million disabled Brits will receive £150 this September.

The money is to help cover the costs of running energy intensive equipment at home.

For many disability benefit recipients who receive means tested benefits, the £150 will come on top of the £650 they will receive separately.

The automatic payments will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

£150 Council Tax rebate

In February, the government announced it would be offering a council tax rebate to combat rising energy bills.

The £150 payment is for people whose homes fall under council tax bands A-D and local councils are responsible for deciding who is eligible and making payments.

The government set a deadline of September 30 for all payments to be made, and payments started back in April.

Many people who pay their council tax bill by direct debit have already had the cash paid directly into their bank accounts.

But thousands who don't must apply for the £150 from their local authority.

You can find your local authority by using the government's handy tool.

Some households are yet to receive payments, but councils have given updates on when residents in those areas should expect to receive them.

£150 from £144 million discretionary fund

Thousands of people who are not eligible for a council tax rebate could still get up to £150 free cash to help with the rising cost of living.

A separate £144 million fund has also been launched, which local councils can dish out to vulnerable and low income households in their area.