By Kevin Peachey<\/strong> Up to six million disabled people are starting to receive cost-of-living payments worth \u00a3150.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This is the latest part of a support package which was announced in May. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n None of these cost-of-living payments affect the tax you pay, or the benefits or tax credits you receive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Two payments totalling \u00a3650 are also being made to more than eight million low-income households who receive the following benefits:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The first instalment of \u00a3326 was paid to about seven million of these people between 14 and 31 July. The payments were made automatically into bank accounts – usually marked “DWP Cost of Living”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The 1.1 million people who only receive tax credits, rather than any of the other benefits, had to wait longer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Their first payment was also automatic, and was paid straight into bank accounts by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) between 2 and 7 September. This was identified differently, with the letters CL and their National Insurance number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n All eight million will receive their second instalment of \u00a3324 later in the year. The first group will receive the money in the autumn, and the smaller group of 1.1 million in the winter. No exact dates have yet been confirmed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n All UK households will get a grant which will reduce energy bills by \u00a3400 from October. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In other words, from October, everyone’s energy bill will be cut by \u00a3400. This will be applied over six months, with a reduction of \u00a366 in October and November, and \u00a367 every month between December and March 2023. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The discount will be made automatically by energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales. There is no need to apply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Direct debit and credit customers will have the money added to their account. Customers with pre-payment meters will have the amount applied to their meter, or receive a voucher.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment – which is worth \u00a3200-\u00a3300 and is paid to nearly all homes with at least one person of pension age – will receive an extra \u00a3300 in November or December.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n That should cover nearly all pensioners across the UK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Lower-income pensioners who claim pension credit, will receive the money in addition to the \u00a3650 support for those on benefits which is mentioned above.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This means a small group of pensioners with disabilities will receive a total of \u00a31,500 when all the payments and discounts are combined.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n At the beginning of September, Prime Minister Liz Truss outlined plans to limit the 80% rise in domestic energy bills that had been due in October when the latest energy cap took effect. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Customers will still pay for the gas and electricity they use. But the government’s new Energy Price Guarantee will limit the price that suppliers can charge for each unit of energy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For a typical household – one that uses 12,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of gas a year, and 2,900 kWh of electricity a year – it means an annual bill will not rise above \u00a32,500 from October. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Without this intervention, that annual bill would have been \u00a33,549 a year. Last winter it was \u00a31,277 a year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This guarantee will last for two years. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The government has pledged to provide the same level of support to households in Northern Ireland, which has a separate energy market. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It is also due to set out measures to protect businesses from steep energy price rises for six months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About 80% of households are already receiving a \u00a3150 energy rebate, often through their council tax bill.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n How it is paid depends whether you pay your council tax by direct debit and where you live in the UK. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Some people were given fuel vouchers through the Household Support Fund which is distributed by local councils. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The government has not yet said how much the new price guarantee will cost. However, industry analysis suggests the bill could be between \u00a3130bn and \u00a3150bn.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The money to cover the cost will be borrowed by the government, <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Companies which extract oil and gas are making much more money than they were last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Firms which generate electricity may also be taxed more in the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The levy will cover some, but not all, of the bill for the government.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Official forecasters say that the rate is set to accelerate. Prices are not expected to fall next year, but the rate of increase is expected to slow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Personal finance correspondent, BBC News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/0D4B\/production\/_124830430_gettyimages-1130534212-1.jpg.webp)
What is the payment for disabled people?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Who is getting other cost-of-living payments and when?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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How will the \u00a3400 energy discount be paid?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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What extra help will pensioners get for winter fuel bills?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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What else is the government doing to tackle energy prices? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What other payments have already been made?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
How is the extra support being funded?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Will the cost of living keep going up?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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