Cost of Living payment latest — Are you on Universal Credit & still waiting for DWP £301? – here’s why and how it’s paid
THE DWP has revealed why some Universal Credit claimants are yet to receive the government's £301 Cost of Living Payment.
Some 8m eligible Brits will have the £300 cash payment sent straight to their accounts, no application needed, to help with the
The payment will be worth exactly £301, and will be followed by two more instalments - worth £299 and £300 - coming this autumn and Spring 2024.
But some Brits are yet to receive the cash, this is because the payment has been staggered, with around five million out of the expected 8 million recipients to get the money by the end of this week, the DWP reports.
To be eligible you will have to claim one following benefits; Income-based jobseeker’s allowance, Income-related employment and support allowance, Income support, Pension credit, Child tax credit, Working tax credit and Universal Credit.
Read our Cost of Living blog below for the latest updates...
Brits ‘need to accept that they’re worse off’
Bank of England‘s chief economist, Huw Pill, said that Brits “need to accept that they’re worse off” and stop demanding pay rises while there was a “reluctance to accept” the UK is poorer.
He added how gas prices have increased ever since the invasion of Ukraine which has led to problems and ignoring the fact risked long-lasting inflation.
It comes as food prices have also soared at their fastest rate in 45 years and inflation is above ten per cent – five times the target of two per cent.
He warned that a “pass-the-parcel game” of wage demands was pushing up prices as firms pass on the extra costs from increased pay and energy prices to consumers.
Martin McTague, of the Federation of Small Businesses, responded saying that the “out of touch comments” by Mr Pill were “criticising firms for putting up prices to cope with the cost of living crisis”.
Mr Pill – a former Goldman Sachs banker – has a £1.5million London home and in when he joined the BoE in 2010, he received a pay package of £95,000 for just his first six months on the job.
Aldi takes tenth of UK’s food shop spend
Aldi has won over those trying to cut their soaring food bills after it was revealed that one pound in every ten of grocery shopping is spent at the supermarket chain.
Aldi sells its own version of well-known brands at a lower price and as a result it has become a threat to traditional supermarkets after it overtook Morrisons to become the UK’s fourth-largest grocer in 2022.
Aldi CEO Giles Hurley said: “Shoppers are voting with their feet by switching from more expensive supermarkets to Aldi. As we hit this new market-share milestone, our commitment to offering the lowest grocery prices in Britain is stronger than ever.”
Get cheap food with this handy app
Too Good To Go connects hungry Brits with food chains and supermarkets that have leftover food which is set to be thrown away.
With Too Good To Go, shoppers can buy the food at a discounted price, making sweet savings.
You pay through the app and get given a slot before closing time to go and pick it up.
What you get will depend on your location and what has sold at that shop or café that day.
The app is free to download so it’s always worth checking what’s available – you never know what you could get.
Brits ‘need to accept that they’re worse off’
Bank of England‘s chief economist, Huw Pill, said that Brits “need to accept that they’re worse off” and stop demanding pay rises while there was a “reluctance to accept” the UK is poorer.
He added how gas prices have increased ever since the invasion of Ukraine which has led to problems and ignoring the fact risked long-lasting inflation.
It comes as food prices have also soared at their fastest rate in 45 years and inflation is above ten per cent – five times the target of two per cent.
He warned that a “pass-the-parcel game” of wage demands was pushing up prices as firms pass on the extra costs from increased pay and energy prices to consumers.
Martin McTague, of the Federation of Small Businesses, responded saying that the “out of touch comments” by Mr Pill were “criticising firms for putting up prices to cope with the cost of living crisis”.
Mr Pill – a former Goldman Sachs banker – has a £1.5million London home and in when he joined the BoE in 2010, he received a pay package of £95,000 for just his first six months on the job.
Families can get free milk from supermarkets
Parents with young children may may qualify for help to get free milk under the Heathy Start scheme.
The government scheme gives people who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four money to help them buy healthy food and milk.
It is in place to help people on lower incomes afford the basics, and to qualify, you usually have to be receiving another kind of benefit such as Universal Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Find out more, including eligibility requirements here.
Major supermarket to increase delivery fees next month
Tesco is increasing the minimum amount that customers need to spend to qualify for home delivery without facing an extra charge.
From May 2, the minimum basket value for home delivery will change to £50 – up from its previous level of £40
It is also increasing the basket charge for those who don’t meet the minimum spend.
The minimum basket charge will increase to £5 – up from £4.
The minimum basket charge is added to all orders that don’t meet the minimum basket value of £50.
But Tesco is retaining the minimum order value for click and collect which will remain at £25 at all stores.
Free debt advice
If you’re in debt there are plenty of services you can take advantage of and they offer free advice on how to manage debt.
Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.
- – 0800 138 7777
- – 0808 800 9060
- – 0800 138 1111
- – 0808 808 4000
Where to get debt help
If you are feeling overwhelmed by money or debt, it’s important to get free and independent help.
We’ve previously looked at all the places you can get debt help for free, including and .
Don’t take money from loan sharks, and try not to resort to very expensive debt, such as doorstep lending.
If you are in arrears with any payments, don’t shy away from speaking to the company – it should help you work out a manageable payment plan to get you back on track.
You might be able to apply for Breathing Space, a scheme which pauses interest charges for a certain period and stops you from being hassled for payment.
A benefits calculator can help you work if you might be entitled to extra cash.
A number of energy firms also offer hardship grants to people who are in arrears with their bills.
You should also check whether you’re eligible for grants or extra help, such as from the Household Support Fund or your local council.
Tesco slammed over little-known Clubcard rule that makes food more expensive
Tesco customers have slammed the supermarket over a little-known Clubcard rule that makes food more expensive for some.
Members of the loyalty scheme collect points as well as bag discounts on thousands of items not available to those without a Clubcard.
But a little-known rule has caught one customer off-guard and meant that she had to pay more than she'd hoped at the checkout.
An angry shopper took to her local community Facebook after learning that her 16-year-old daughter wasn't allowed to use her Clubcard.
Tesco Clubcard members usually get 50p off the full price of the supermarket's meal deal and are charged £3.40 instead of £3.90.
But on this occasion, the shopper's daughter was made to pay full price because she wasn't old enough to use a Clubcard.
Customers do need to be 18 or over to sign up and utilise the scheme's benefits, according to Tesco's terms and conditions.
Can I work while on Universal Credit?
The government says that the flagship welfare system has been designed to help people get back into work.
This means you can work as many hours as you want while claiming benefits but it may reduce the amount you get.
This is due to your wages will be subject to the taper rate: for every £1 you earn, your Universal Credit payment will go down 55p.
If you’ve got a job and a child who is dependent on you or you can’t work due to an illness then you might be entitled to a work allowance.
This is the amount you can earn every month before the taper rate kicks in.
If you get help with your housing costs then this will be set at £344, or £573 if you don’t.
If you don’t get a work allowance then all of your salary is subject to the taper rate.
How do you log in to Universal Credit?
Universal Credit claimants can see their online account by logging in via the gov.uk website.
You’ll need your username and password – which are the same ones you had to set up when you first applied for benefits.
If you have forgotten your login details, you can put in a request to reset your username or password by entering your email address.
If you have an online Universal Credit account, you can also sign in via gov.uk verify.
In a worse case scenario, you can always try calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 (Textphone: 0800 328 1344).
You can also get in contact via NGT text relay on 18001 then 0800 328 5644.
There’s a Welsh language helpline available on 0800 328 1744 too.
Brits could be making this common heating mistake
Data from Loop, the energy-saving smart meter app, shows that 50% of households keep their heating on through April.
And a common mistake could actually be accidentally adding more to your payments, according to the energy experts.
By not lowering the temperature on your home's thermostat, it means you could be missing out on £100 in savings.
Loop is urging households to turn their thermostat down by just one degree to save themselves the cash.
Dr Steve Buckley, head of data science at Loop, said: “If your thermostat is set too high, there’s the risk that your heating will run unnecessarily during the day, overheating your home, wasting gas and money.
"Reducing the temperature your thermostat is set to by as little as one degree can save you 10% on your bills, allowing you to still take the edge off while avoiding overheating."
Households are adding an extra £500 million to their energy bills each year by one simple mistake
Households are adding an extra £514 million pounds to their energy bills each year by making one simple mistake.
A study of 2,000 adults found most households (86%) are guilty of leaving an average of eight items on standby at any one time – with TVs, microwaves and washing machines being among the biggest offenders.
This is costing an extra £20 a year, or £513,766,000 across all UK households, which generates more carbon emissions than two million return flights from London to Spain.
Find out more, including the average Brit’s energy use here.
When will Student Loans be paid this year?
Student loans are paid in three instalments, but the exact day you’ll receive yours depends on your term start date.
If your course starts in September, you should receive your payments in September, January and April.
That means if you started in September 2022, your second payment should have hit your account in January.
The third should be with you now or at some point before the end of the month.
The payments are sent by Student Finance Wales, Northern Ireland and England or, if you’re in Scotland, the Student Awards Agency Scotland.
Student Finance England (SFE) says it can take up to three days for payments to reach a student’s account, so it’s best to make sure you have some money to cover immediate costs like transport and your first rent payment.
Students usually receive a text or email to confirm when they will be paid each instalment.
You could be owed £3,000 tax back if you're over 55
Brits over the age of 55 could be owed up to £3,000 tax back as anyone accessing their retirement savings from this age could be overpaying tax.
People who access one-off lump sums from their pensions are taxed as if that will be their monthly income - meaning they often end up paying too much.
The latest official figures from January till March show that HMRC processed 15,800 tax refund claims and a total of £48.5million was repaid.
Steve Webb, Partner at LCP said: "We are not talking about small sums, with over £1 billion being paid back by HMRC so far. Reform of the system is long overdue so that it works to the benefit of pension savers and not the Treasury."
If it was the firs time that you took money from your pension pot and took more than 25%, then HMRC probably owes you money.
To claim the money back fill in a form to send by post or online from the government website - there's the P50Z form if you stopped working and the P53Z form if you're still working but emptied your pension pot.
If you've taken out a chunk, use the P55 form.
It could take up to six weeks to get the money refunded.
Martin Lewis urges energy customers to check their bill NOW
Money Saving expert Martin Lewis is urging households to check their energy bills to make sure they're not overpaying after the government's roll out of the £400 discount came to an end in March.
In the latest MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) newsletter, Martin Lewis said: "Now that the £66/mth energy support's ended - check your new direct debit is fair.
"Many are seeing direct debits hiked due to the support ending, plus many suppliers are reviewing usage."
Some energy suppliers are hiking customer direct debits to take into account that they're not receiving a monthly discount anymore, however, customers have a right to a "fair direct debit", Ofgem's licence conditions indicate.
There are two types of energy direct debits - fixed or variable.
Most energy customers pay a fixed direct debit which means they pay a fixed amount every month as the supplier calculates how much energy will be used throughout the year and divide it into equal amounts.
Some pay a variable direct debit which sees you paying a varying amount every month or quarter depending on your usage.
How to get free food from Morrisons
Morrisons customers can get a free jacket potato with beans through the Ask for Henry scheme as the major supermarket helps those struggling with hunger.
The chain is running the scheme across its 397 cafes until May 7 and shoppers just have to ask for Henry and will receive a jacket potato with Heinz beans and salad.
The free meals are available all day and open to anyone who might be struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Make sure you've been paid the right amount by your employer
Earlier this month the national living wage increased from £9.50 to £10.42 an hour giving workers a boost worth £1,600.
Around 2.5million Brits should be receiving the increase and HMRC is warning workers to check their pay slips and make sure that their employees have gave them the extra cash.
A spokesperson said: "Did you know the National Living and Minimum Wage rates increased on April 1? Check that you’ve been paid the correct amount by your employer."
Workers can make this easy check on the gov.uk website by heading over to the "" page.
From there simply check the section that applies to you and make sure you have been paid the new rate for your age group.
How to keep grocery costs down
As food prices rise, shoppers are looking for ways to save at the till.
Here we take a look at some of the ways you can keep grocery costs down.
- Check labels for the price per item or by weight as you often get things cheaper if you go for bigger packs.
- You can check where items are cheapest using which compares the prices of 130,000 products across 14 major supermarkets.
- The also lets you search items and lets you compare prices at several supermarkets to see where it's cheaper.
- Look for store cupboard essentials such as rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes and dried herbs in the world food aisle as it's often cheaper than in other sections.
- Sign up for loyalty cards at all the supermarkets and take advantage of the offers they give access to.
- Buy frozen fruit, veg, fish and meat as it's often a lot cheaper than buying fresh.
- Plan your meals before you shop and buy only what you need.
- Buy own brand and budget ranges rather than the luxury versions some supermarkets offer.
What cash help is on its way this summer?
There will also be a £150 disability cost of living payment for eligible people with disabilities paid in the summer.
An exact date for this payment is yet to be confirmed.
Millions of people could be eligible for this payment if they get the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
The DWP said it will let households know when to expect the cash closer to the date.
What is pension credit?
Pension credit is designed to boost your income if you’re over the state pension age and on a low income.
On top of the government’s cost of living payment, pension credit also makes you eligible for other support such as the Warm Home Discount scheme worth £150 a year and help with council tax.
The benefit could be worth more than £3,300 a year.
John Lewis Partnership to launch new loyalty scheme
John Lewis Partnership is set to compete against Tesco's Clubcard scheme as they hired specialists who previously worked at the rival supermarket chain to create a new loyalty scheme.
The scheme launching in 2024 will give shoppers "even more benefits" than the current MyWaitrose or My John Lewis scheme.
It will offer customers more personalised discounts to encourage shopper loyalty.
Supermarkets are putting in every effort to ensure that customers remain loyal while they battle out soaring food prices.
Residents in Brent can earn up to £1,000 in help
With the help of the Household Support Fund, Brent Council is offering its residents up to £1,000 to help with soaring bills of rent, mortgages or council tax amongst others.
The council also put aside £3.5million to offer resident food vouchers and one-off payments.
If you live in the Brent area, are 18 or over and meet the following, you may be eligible:
- have less than £6,000 in savings
- need support with meeting your day to day living expenses including food and utility bills
- are not seeking support to pay for an excluded item
- are willing to comply with any reasonable conditions concerning the payment award, including for example, support from advice agencies
- have not made a Resident Support Fund application in the last 12 rolling months
You can only make one application through the Resident Support Fund between April 1 this year and March 31, 2024.
You can apply on the Brent Council's website and you'll also need:
- your most recent statements for all bank accounts (including your partner’s bank statements if you have one)
- you most recent utility bill, if required
The website said that the applications should be processed withing eight to 10 weeks and it will contact residents whose applications have been successful.
Four cheap swaps for expensive medications
Somerset pharmacist, Mike Hewitson, told us how people can save money on cheaper medications which are as effective as expensive ones.
He told The Sun: "I generally advise people to use unbranded medicines which are often as effective as the branded products, but at a fraction of the price."
We found four medications that you can swap for cheaper versions and still make you feel better in no time.
Starting with Lemsip, a packet of 10 Lemsip max cold and flu lemon sachets cost £5.35 from Boots pharmacy, however, you can buy the Boots own brand Lepsip for £3.49.
Lepsip is known as max strength cold and flue relief lemon flavour powder for oral suspension.
Meanwhile, Wilko sells pain-killing Nurofen at £2.25 per pack of 16 tablets.
However, you can purchase the cheaper Ibuprofen for 39p for the same number of pills and it helps to minimise inflammation in the body.
If you're suffering from hay fever, you're most likely to purchase relief Beconase which comes at a whopping £6.49 at Boots.
However, the pharmacy has its own version of hay fever relied, which is that same size and costs £4.99.
Finally, try switching from Calpol, which costs £3.30 at Tesco, to the supermarket's own brand which costs a quid less, at £2.30.
Brits 'need to accept that they're worse off'
Bank of England's chief economist, Huw Pill, said that Brits "need to accept that they're worse off" and stop demanding pay rises while there was a "reluctance to accept” the UK is poorer.
He added how gas prices have increased ever since the invasion of Ukraine which has led to problems and ignoring the fact risked long-lasting inflation.
It comes as food prices have also soared at their fastest rate in 45 years and inflation is above ten per cent - five times the target of two per cent.
He warned that a "pass-the-parcel game" of wage demands was pushing up prices as firms pass on the extra costs from increased pay and energy prices to consumers.
Martin McTague, of the Federation of Small Businesses, responded saying that the “out of touch comments” by Mr Pill were “criticising firms for putting up prices to cope with the cost of living crisis”.
Mr Pill - a former Goldman Sachs banker - has a £1.5million London home and in when he joined the BoE in 2010, he received a pay package of £95,000 for just his first six months on the job.