Payment – USMAIL24.COM

One-off cash payment worth £145 for thousands to help with rising living costs

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 19:15:27 +0000

THOUSANDS of cash-strapped Britons can claim a one-off payment of £145 to help with rising living costs – but will have to act quickly to get the money into the bank.

The cost of living crisis has taken its toll on all of us, leaving many people to tighten their wallets.

The Domestic Support Fund provides free cash or vouchers to families in needCredit: Getty

But those on a low income or on certain benefits can receive free financial help from their municipality.

If you live in Windsor and Maidenhead borough, you can get £145 of free cash to cover food and energy costs.

The council has worked with 18 charity partners to decide who needs the help.

Since 2021, they have already served 2,821 residents and distributed 36,350 free school meal vouchers to families through our partnership.

Much of this support is aimed at those who are most struggling, including care leavers, older people and families.

The aid comes through the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842 million.

The money is provided by the government, which has distributed it to councils in England.

They then decide how to divide their share of the fund.

Applicants must also be in “severe financial need” and over 18 years of age.

Councilor Catherine del Campo, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, said: “Our partnership with the community has been vital in ensuring residents have access to a wide range of support for living costs and has already helped so many people assisted.

“We know the cost of living remains high and it is very important that residents continue to reach out for support when they are struggling.

‘The cost of living affects everyone, and people should not feel ashamed about asking for help.

‘There are many people who want to help and you will not be judged regardless of your circumstances.

“The partnership we have created provides a sustainable source of support for residents, providing comprehensive support to residents that goes beyond government assistance.

“You can also make an appointment with our Financial Inclusion Team to ensure you claim everything you’re entitled to, and see our ‘Here to Help’ web pages for more support and advice on living costs around energy and water bills, rental costs, council tax, food, childcare, school meals, benefits and more.”

Meanwhile, Danielle Lane, community development officer at housing association Abri, said: “The collaboration between the council and the various support groups has been exceptional.

“We have all been involved in setting up the process and working together to resolve issues – this has made the process seamless and simple for everyone involved.

“The Cost of Living Partnership is now well established and will continue to look for ways to support each other and residents during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

“Over the past year we have supported more than 200 customers who urgently needed help with heating and family essentials.”

What should I do if my municipality is not on the list?

Although the final phase of this DWP Household Support Fund has now been fully distributed, the cost of living remains high and local partners are committed to working together to help residents access support.

The Government recently announced that the Household Support Fund will be further expanded, but allocations for councils and qualification criteria are yet to be confirmed.

It is best to contact your municipality to see what help is offered and whether you need to take action.

You can do this by using the government’s location tool on its website.

But you may want to act quickly because competition for the fund is fierce and once a municipality uses up its share, there is nothing left.

That said, the Household Support Fund has been extended several times since it was first launched in October 2021, so it could be extended again when the current batch closes, in March 2024.

The post One-off cash payment worth £145 for thousands to help with rising living costs appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Trade groups are suing to block late credit card payment limits

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:06:27 +0000

Six trade groups sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday over a new rule that would cap most credit card payments at $8 a month.

The court case, filed in federal court in Fort Worth, asks the court to strike down the rule, which the consumer agency completed two days ago. The complaint alleges that the agency violated agency regulation laws and exceeded its statutory authority, and states that consumers will suffer financial harm if the rule goes into effect.

“Late fees encourage on-time payments, which in turn helps card issuers manage credit risk and reduce costs, allowing them to offer more competitive terms and features,” the trade groups wrote in their complaint.

A spokeswoman for the consumer agency said the rule “closes a long-standing loophole exploited by credit card giants to turn late fees into a major revenue stream.” The rule, which applies to issuers that have more than 1 million open credit card accounts, would cut most fees from their current average of $32, saving households $10 billion a year, according to consumer agency estimates.

The spokeswoman added that the agency would contest the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by the American Bankers Association, the Consumer Bankers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and three Texas business associations.

“Once again, we are reluctantly forced to sue a federal regulator because the CFPB has ignored comments from industry and other stakeholders demonstrating that this rule exceeds the agency’s statutory authority and will hurt rather than help consumers.” , said Rob Nichols, president of the American Bankers Association. general manager. (His group is part of active lawsuits against the consumer bureau over its attempt to investigate financial companies for signs of customer discrimination during routine surveys.)

The trade groups have asked the court for a preliminary injunction to block the rule, which would otherwise take effect within a few months.

The case was filed in a court within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, which previously ruled that the consumer agency’s funding structure violated the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause. That ruling is before the Supreme Court, which heard arguments on it in October.

Consumer advocates said they expected both the process and the location. The trade groups “intentionally chose a conservative-leaning, industry-friendly court in hopes of derailing any kind of regulation that would hurt their bottom line,” said Liz Zelnick, program director at Accountable.US, a progressive research group.

President Biden, who has made combating “junk fees” a signature effort of his administration, is likely to promote the consumer agency’s rule in his State of the Union address Thursday evening.

Critics accused the consumer agency of rushing the rule — which has been in development for more than a year — to promote Mr. Biden’s political agenda. Lindsey Johnson, CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association, said Thursday that the agency was trying to “provide some short-term headlines for a White House looking for political victories.”

The post Trade groups are suing to block late credit card payment limits appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Cyberattack cripples America’s largest healthcare payment system

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 21:46:10 +0000

An Ohio urgent care chain may be forced to stop paying rent and other bills to cover salaries. In Florida, a cancer center is scrambling to find money for chemotherapy drugs to avoid delaying crucial treatments for its patients. And in Pennsylvania, a primary care physician is cutting costs and pooling all her money — including her personal bank stash — in hopes of staying afloat for the next two months.

These are just a few examples of the severe cash shortages facing medical providers — from large hospital networks to the smallest clinics — in the wake of a cyberattack two weeks ago that crippled the nation’s largest U.S. billing and payment system. The attack forced the shutdown of parts of the electronic system operated by Change Healthcare, a significant unit of UnitedHealth Group, leaving hundreds, if not thousands, of health care providers unable to obtain insurance approval for services ranging from drug prescribing to mastectomy – or to be paid for these services.

In recent days, the chaotic nature of this sprawling collapse of daily, often invisible transactions has led top lawmakers, powerful hospital industry executives and patient groups to pressure the U.S. government to provide relief. On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it would take steps to ease financial pressure on some of those affected: hospitals and doctors who receive Medicare reimbursements would especially benefit from the new measures.

U.S. health officials said they would allow health care providers to apply to Medicare for accelerated payments, similar to the advanced financing made available during the pandemic, to tide them over. They also urged health insurers to eliminate or relax much-criticized prior authorization rules that have become a barrier to receiving care. And they recommended that insurers offering private Medicare plans also provide advanced financing.

HHS said it was trying to coordinate efforts to avoid disruptions, but it remained unclear whether these initial government efforts could bridge the gaps left by the still-offline mega-operations of Change Healthcare, which serves as a digital clearinghouse that connects doctors , hospitals and pharmacies. to insurers. It processes as many as one in three patient files in the country.

The hospital sector was critical of the response and called the measures inadequate.

In addition to news of the damage caused by another healthcare cyberattack, the closure of parts of Change Healthcare has once again focused attention on the consolidation of medical companies, physician groups and other entities under UnitedHealth Group. United’s acquisition of Change in a $13 billion deal in 2022 was initially challenged by federal prosecutors but went ahead after the government lost its case.

So far, United has not provided a timetable for reconnecting this crucial network. “Patient care is our top priority, and we have multiple solutions to ensure people have access to the medicines and care they need,” United said in an update on its website.

But on March 1, a bitcoin address linked to the alleged hackers, a group known as AlphV or BlackCat, received a $22 million transaction that some security firms say was likely a ransom payment United made to the group, according to a news article Wired. United declined to comment, as did the security company that initially noticed the payment.

Yet the long-lasting effects of the attack have once again exposed the vast interconnected networks of electronic health information and the vulnerability of patient data. Change processes approximately 15 billion transactions per year.

The closure of a number of Change activities has disrupted the digital role that connects providers and insurers when submitting bills and receiving payments. That has delayed tens of millions of dollars in insurance payments to providers. Pharmacies were initially unable to deliver many patients’ medications because they could not verify their insurance, and providers have racked up large sums of unpaid claims in the two weeks since the cyberattack.

“It absolutely highlights the fragility of our health care system,” said Ryan S. Higgins, an attorney at McDermott Will & Emery, who advises health care organizations on cybersecurity. The same entity alleged to be responsible for the cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline, a pipeline from Texas to New York that carried 45 percent of the East Coast’s fuel supplies, is believed to be behind the Change attack in 2021. “They have historically focused on critical infrastructure,” he said.

In the early days after the Feb. 21 attack, pharmacies were the first to struggle filling prescriptions because they couldn’t verify a person’s insurance coverage. In some cases, patients could not receive medications or vaccinations unless they paid in cash. But they apparently solved these problems by turning to other companies or developing solutions.

“Now almost two weeks later, the operational crisis is over and essentially over,” said Patrick Berryman, senior vice president of the National Community Pharmacists Association.

But as the shutdown extends, doctors, hospitals and other providers are struggling to pay the costs because the steady revenue streams from private insurers, Medicare and Medicaid simply aren’t coming in.

Arlington Urgent Care, a chain of five urgent care centers around Columbus, Ohio, has about $650,000 in unpaid insurance reimbursements. The chain’s owners are concerned about cash and wondering how they will pay bills, including rent and other expenses. They have taken out lines of credit from banks and used their personal savings to set aside enough money to pay employees for about two months, said Molly Fulton, the chief operating officer.

“This is even worse than when Covid hit because even though we didn’t get paid for a while then either, at least we knew there would be a solution,” Ms Fulton said. “There is no end in sight here. I have no idea when Change will be back on the market.”

The hospital industry has labeled Change’s infiltration as “the most significant cyberattack on the U.S. health care system in American history” and has urged the federal government and United to provide emergency funding. The American Hospital Association, a trade group, has sharply criticized United’s efforts to date and its latest initiative offering a loan program.

“It is not nearly enough to close the gaping holes in funding,” Richard J. Pollack, chairman of the trade group, said Monday in a letter to Dirk McMahon, United’s president.

“We need real solutions – not programs that sound good when announced but are fundamentally inadequate when you read the fine print,” Mr. Pollack said.

The loan program has not been well received in the country.

Diana Holmes, a therapist in Attleboro, Massachusetts, received an offer from Optum to lend her $20 a week, even though she says she has been unable to file about $4,000 in claims for her work since February 21. “It’s not like we have reserves,” she said.

She says there has been virtually no communication from Change or the main insurer for her patients, Blue Cross of Massachusetts. “It’s just maddening,” she said. She was forced to find a new payment center with an upfront payment and a one-year contract. “You had to move quickly without information,” she said.

Blue Cross said it was working with providers to find various solutions.

Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute in Gainesville resorted to new contracts with two competing clearinghouses as it spends $300 million a month on chemotherapy and other drugs for patients whose treatments cannot be delayed.

“We don’t have that kind of money in a bank,” says Dr. Lucio Gordan, president of the institute. “We’re not sure how we’re going to recover or collect the duplicate fees that we’ll incur if we have multiple clearinghouses.”

Dr. Christine Meyer, owner and operator of a 20-physician primary care practice in Exton, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia, piled “hundreds and hundreds” of pages of Medicare claims into a FedEx box and sent them to the agency. Dr. Meyer said she wondered how she could save money by cutting costs, such as potentially reducing the supply of vaccines the clinic has on hand. She said if she could get all her money together and her line of credit, her practice could survive for about two and a half months.

Through Optum’s temporary financing program, Dr. Meyer that she received a $4,000 loan, compared to the roughly half a million dollars she typically provides through Change. “That’s less than 1 percent of my monthly claims and, to make matters worse, the notice came in a big red font that said, you’ll have to pay all of this back when this is resolved,” said Dr. Meyer. “It’s all a joke.”

The hospital industry has pushed Medicare officials and lawmakers to address the situation by freeing up money for hospitals. Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the chamber’s majority leader, wrote one letter On Friday, federal health officials were urged to make accelerated payments available. “The longer this disruption continues, the more difficult it will be for hospitals to continue providing comprehensive healthcare services to patients,” he said.

In a statement, Senator Schumer said he was pleased with the HHS announcement because “money will flow to healthcare providers as our healthcare system continues to reel from this cyberattack.” He added: “The work cannot stop until all affected healthcare providers have sufficient financial stability to weather this storm and continue serving their patients.”

The post Cyberattack cripples America’s largest healthcare payment system appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Thousands will receive a £100 ‘back in their pocket’ payment from TODAY – should you pay cash?

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 19:33:09 +0000

THOUSANDS of happy households will automatically receive a £100 payment to help them with rising energy bills – and you can apply today.

It is believed that more than 16,500 homes could receive a financial boost in a bid to help them tackle the cost of living many of us are struggling with.

More than 16,500 households will receive a £100 payment to help them with living costsCredit: Getty

It is said that the bonus money is being handed over to put money “back into the pockets of those who need it most”.

The free gesture is available to the thousands of residents of Kensington in London Chelsea city districts.

To see whether your household is eligible for the €100 gift, please visit your municipality’s website apply online through them.

Applications open from 12pm today and payments will be disbursed between May 1 and May 31, 2024.

Only one payment of £100 per household is allowed.

Those who can apply include anyone receiving council tax relief, housing benefits or households receiving the housing cost element of Universal Credit.

Councilor Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Finance, Customer Services and Net Zero said: “Inflation and energy costs have fallen over the past year, but we know many families are still feeling pressure on the cost of living.

“This £100 payment is money back into the pockets of those who need it most.

“Like many councils, we face tough decisions in our budget plans, but we have committed to becoming a fairer borough and by targeting support in this way we can ensure it gets to the people with the lowest incomes, where necessary.” can make the biggest difference.”

The financing is not covered by the Housing Support Fund, but is offered throughout the country.

The money will be handed out by the Department for Work and Pensions from a pot worth as much as £842 million.

It could be in the form of a direct bank transfer or shopping voucher, depending on where exactly you live.

The amounts may vary and it is up to the municipality to distribute the money.

But it is usually provided based on your financial circumstances and what benefits you receive.

It is designed to help families who struggle the most with the cost of living.

What is the Domestic Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits get through the winter amid the cost of living.

Municipalities across the country received a large portion of the available funding to distribute to Britons in need.

It was then extended for a second time in the spring budget and a third time in November to help people on the lowest incomes cope with the rising cost of living.

The DWP has confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme until March 31, 2024.

The help you can receive depends on who your municipality is and your personal situation.

But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or covering the cost of your weekly shopping.

If an applicant is already receiving benefits, they will not be affected by the HSF.

And you don’t have to be on benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.

Check with your municipality to find out what support is available and what the eligibility criteria are.

Thousands of households in East Surrey are eligible for up to £350, while those living in Dudley can get up to £275.

Buckinghamshire Council has also extended their support after receiving £4.8 million for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

For example, those living in West Devon received up to £400.

How to apply

To get the help, you will need to contact your municipality, as local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding.

To find your municipality, use the gov.uk council seeker.

Contact them and see if they offer the money.

If you are the tenant or owner of the property and receive housing benefit or tax relief from the municipality, you do not need to do anything.

You will receive the payment automatically because your bank details are already registered with the municipality.

However, if you receive Universal Credit Housing Allowance, you will need to apply for the Low Income Support Payment through the council.

All links must be found online.

Registrations are open and payments will be made in May.

The post Thousands will receive a £100 ‘back in their pocket’ payment from TODAY – should you pay cash? appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Warning for married couples who may be owed a lump sum payment worth £1,200

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:36:22 +0000

MILLIONS of married couples are being urged to check whether they owe a lump sum of more than £1,200.

The marriage allowance allows married couples or civil partners to share their personal tax deductions.

Couples could be owed a lump sum worth more than £1,200

HMRC has revealed that March is the most popular month for marriage benefit claims, with almost 70,000 couples claiming in March last year

Marriage tax relief allows couples to claim money back if one half earns less than £50,270 a year and the other half earns less than £12,570 or no money at all.

So if you or your partner have not used up your personal allowance (currently € 12,570 per year), you can transfer it to the other.

This means they can save up to €252 in the current tax year. In addition, you can backdate any claims for up to four years if you were previously eligible – a total saving of €1,260.

Angela MacDonald, deputy chief executive and second permanent secretary of HMRC, said: ‘Marriage Allowance keeps money in your pocket by reducing the amount of tax you and your spouse pay by up to £252 per year.

If you’re not sure whether you qualify, HMRC has an online marriage benefit calculator that can help you check this.

And the great thing is: it only takes 30 seconds to complete.

HMRC said couples who may not be aware they can claim include couples where one partner works and the other has an income of less than £12,570, including couples who:

are retired
have given up work to care for children or elderly relatives
are unable to work due to long-term health problems
have a part-time job
have a low-paid job

To file your claim online, you will need both social security numbers, plus some proof of identity.

Spring Budget 2024: How income tax and national insurance work

Another tax break that could give couples a cash boost

One way couples can save some money is by maximizing their personal savings allowance.

If one half of a couple has reached the tax-free income limit and the other half has not, you can transfer your savings and use up the remaining Personal Savings Allowance (PSA).

PSA is the total amount of interest you can earn on all your bank accounts, minus ISAs, without paying tax.

Under the deduction, basic rate taxpayers, those with an annual income between £12,571 and £50,270, can earn £1,000 in savings income before having to pay tax on it.

Meanwhile, higher rate taxpayers, those earning between £50,271 and £125,140, will receive a £500 compensation.

If your partner has not reached the tax-free limit, you can easily transfer the savings from one bank to another.

However, we spoke to tax expert Laura Suter who has a word of caution if you’re thinking about doing this.

We have the full list of tax benefits for couples, including survivor benefits and inheritance taxes.

Meanwhile, a mother demanded £250 back when she realized she was eligible for the cash boost.

Who is eligible for marriage benefit?

You can claim marriage benefit if one of the following situations applies

You are married or have a registered partnership
You currently pay no income tax or your income is less than your personal allowance (usually £12,670)
Your partner pays income tax at the basic rate, which usually means their income is between £12,571 and £50,270 before they receive spousal allowance.

Please also note that you cannot claim marriage benefit if you live together without being married or have a registered partnership.

Claims for the spousal benefit can be made retroactively to include any tax year for which you were eligible since April 5, 2018.

Your partner’s tax bill will be reduced depending on the personal deduction rate for the years you go back.

You can apply for marriage benefit by completing a form on the government website.

You can also apply via self-assessment or by writing to HMRC.

The post Warning for married couples who may be owed a lump sum payment worth £1,200 appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Fortnite players are at risk of having their payment details leaked in a massive hack

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:34:55 +0000

A RANSOMWARE group claims to have stolen nearly 200 GB of data from Fortnite maker Epic Games.

In a post on a darknet leak site, the group made claims about what they were able to steal from the company.

Fortnite players with saved payment details could be at riskCredit: X@FortniteGame

According to a report from Cyber dailythe group known as The Mogelivich Gang is relatively new to the ransomware scene.

The group claims to have stolen “email, passwords, full name, payment information, source code and many other data.”

Overnight, the group claims to have launched an attack on Epic Games’ servers.

Unlike other ransomware attacks that have occurred in the industry, Mogelivich has provided no evidence that the hack occurred.

Epic Games has responded to the report, saying: “We are investigating, but there is currently no evidence that these claims are legitimate.

“Mogilievich has not contacted Epic or provided any evidence of the veracity of these allegations.

“When we saw these allegations, which were a screenshot of a dark web web page in a third party tweet, we began investigating within minutes and contacted Mogilevich for evidence.

“Mogilevich has not responded. The closest we’ve seen to a response so far is this Tweet, in which they are reportedly asking for $15,000 and ‘proof of funds’ to hand over the alleged data.”

Mogelivich offers to sell the data, but does not specify a price and says they are willing to sell to anyone who will pay for it.

The message reads: “If you are an employee of the company or someone who wants to purchase the data, please click me.”

This link goes to the group’s contact page, which is linked to a secure email.

Mogelivich claims buyers only have until Monday, March 4, 2024 to submit their offer before it is withdrawn.

If their claims are true, Fortnite players and those who use the Epic Games Store are at risk.

The group claims to have personal and financial information, including that of users.

There is no need to worry yet as it has not yet been proven that the hack occurred at all.

If you want to learn more about Fortnite, check out the upcoming Fortnite collaboration.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

All the latest PS5 reviews from The Sun

Learn about the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.

The post Fortnite players are at risk of having their payment details leaked in a massive hack appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Exact code to spot this week as a new £299 cost of living payment

Jeffrey Bailey — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 02:32:20 +0000

MILLIONS of households will receive £299 free cash this week and will have to look out for a specific code.

From February 6, living expenses hit the bank accounts of people with certain benefits.

Millions of households received a £299 payment towards living expenses this monthCredit: Alamy

It will then be published until February 22.

It will be automatically credited to the bank accounts of those who qualify for the tax-free payment.

The payment reference is the recipient's social security number, followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.

For example, if your NI number is JT 83 42 97B, your payment will appear on your bank statement as 'JT 83 42 97B DWP COLP' or 'JT 83 42 97B HMRC COLP'.

Britons were previously reminded not to panic if their money did not arrive immediately on February 6.

The £299 payment is being distributed to more than eight million people over 17 days, so it may take longer for you than others.

Who is eligible for cost of living benefits?

The full list of benefits that qualify people for the payment is:

Universal credit
Income-related jobseeker's allowance
Income-related employment and support benefit
Income support
Working tax benefit
Child tax credit
Pension credit

You must have been entitled to a payment of one of the qualifying benefits above between November 13 and December 12 to be eligible for the free money.

If it later turns out that you are entitled to one of the above benefits between the same dates, you will also be eligible for payment.

Thousands of households will receive an automatic payment of £100 'back in their pocket' to help with energy costs

Households with tax credits will only receive their payment from HMRC after the others have been paid by the DWP.

This is to ensure that those on other benefits and tax credits do not receive the payment twice.

What other help is available?

If you don't qualify for the £299 living costs payment, or even if you do and still need help, other support is offered.

The Domestic Support Fund is one option. It is worth £842 million and is shared between councils in England.

They then decide how to divide their portion.

But what you are entitled to depends on where you live, as each local authority sets its own eligibility criteria.

In the vast majority of cases, you are eligible if you are on benefits, have a low income or are struggling financially.

You should contact your local council to see if assistance is offered. You can find out which local authority area you fall under by using the government's online council finder.

You may also be able to claim a free subsidy from your energy company if you are struggling to pay.

British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF are among the major companies offering help.

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the company, but you will usually need to prove that you have energy debt or are experiencing fuel poverty.

The government classes fuel poverty, for example when a household has to spend a “large part” of its income to keep the temperature at a reasonable level.

It's worth checking whether you're also eligible for benefits, after the latest figures from analytics firm Policy in Practice show that £19 billion in support is going unclaimed every year.

The post Exact code to spot this week as a new £299 cost of living payment appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

1,000s to get an automatic payment of £100 'back in the pocket' to help with energy costs

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 06:11:32 +0000

THOUSANDS of households will receive an automatic £100 payment to help with rising energy costs.

More than 16,500 homes are likely to get the money back in a bid to help them ease cost-of-living pressures.

Thousands of households will be able to get their hands on £100 this yearCredit: Getty

The money is available to people living in the London neighborhoods of Kensington and Chelsea.

You will be able to apply via the municipality's website from March 2 at 12 noon.

Each household is only eligible for one payment of £100 each.

Those eligible include anyone receiving council tax relief, housing benefits and households receiving the housing cost element of Universal Credit.

Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Finance, Customer Services and Net Zero said: “Inflation and energy costs have fallen over the past year, but we know many families are still feeling pressure on the cost of living.

“This £100 payment is money back into the pockets of those who need it most.

Although this funding is not part of the Housing Support Fund, it is still offered across the country.

The support comes from an £842 million pot from the Department for Work and Pensions.

What you can get depends on where you live, but the money can be in the form of an instant money transfer or shopping vouchers.

The amounts vary and it is up to the municipality how the money is distributed.

The fund is usually distributed based on your financial circumstances and the benefits you receive.

It is designed to help the neediest families struggling with the cost of living.

But what is the Domestic Support Fund and how do you apply for the help? Below we explain everything you need to know.

What is the Domestic Support Fund?

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits get through the winter amid the cost of living.

Councils across the country were given a share of the £842 million funding available to hand out to Brits in need.

It was then extended for a second time in the spring budget and a third time in November to help people on the lowest incomes cope with the rising cost of living.

The DWP has confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme until March 31, 2024.

The help you can receive depends on who your municipality is and your personal situation.

But you may be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or covering the cost of your weekly shopping.

If an applicant is already receiving benefits, they will not be affected by the HSF.

And you don't have to be on benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.

Check with your municipality to find out what support is available and what the eligibility criteria are.

Thousands of households in East Surrey are eligible for up to £350, while those living in Dudley can get up to £275.

Buckinghamshire Council has also extended their support after receiving £4.8 million for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

For example, those living in West Devon received up to £400.

How do you apply?

To get help, you will need to contact your municipality as local authorities are responsible for distributing funding.

To find your municipality, use the gov.uk council seeker.

The post 1,000s to get an automatic payment of £100 'back in the pocket' to help with energy costs appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Millions are receiving the final payment for living expenses. Here's how to check yours

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:43:11 +0000

How long can you wait before receiving the money?

Some households may have to wait weeks for living expenses to be paid.

Payments will begin today, but will continue until February 22.

Depending on your individual circumstances, some are paid slightly later by HMRC, while others are paid by the DWP.

For example, those who only have tax credits and no other benefits will be paid between February 16 and 22.

What benefits are you eligible for?

To receive the final living expenses payment, you must have received at least one of seven benefits, including a pension credit, between November 13 and December 12.

The full list of benefits that make people eligible for the payment is:

Universal credit
Income-related jobseeker's allowance
Income-related employment and support benefit
Income support
Working tax benefit
Child tax credit
Pension credit

How will the money be paid out to those who qualify?

The money will be automatically credited to the bank accounts of those who qualify for the tax-free payment.

However, depending on your individual circumstances, some are paid slightly later by HMRC, while others are paid by the DWP.

The post Millions are receiving the final payment for living expenses. Here's how to check yours appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

The exact code to recognize as a £299 cost of living payment will appear on bills within HOURS

Jeffrey Bailey — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 12:21:52 +0000

MILLIONS of households in need will receive direct payments worth £299 from tomorrow – and they should keep their eyes peeled for a specific code.

Living expenses will hit the bank accounts of those receiving certain benefits from February 6.

The final cost of living figures for households on benefits will be issued from February 6Credit: Alamy

It will then be published until February 22.

The money will be automatically credited to the bank accounts of those who qualify for the tax-free payment.

However, depending on your individual circumstances, some are paid slightly later by HMRC, while others are paid by the DWP.

For example, those who only have tax credits and no other benefits will be paid between February 16 and 22.

With this in mind, there are several codes to look out for when payment is credited to your bank account.

The payment reference is the recipient's social security number, followed by DWP COL or HMRC COLS.

For example, if your NI number is JT 83 42 97B, your payment will appear on your bank statement as 'JT 83 42 97B DWP COLP' or 'JT 83 42 97B HMRC COLP'.

The £299 payment will be distributed to eight million people over 17 days, so be aware that it may take longer for you than others.

To get this, you must have received at least one of the seven benefits, including pension credit, between November 13 and December 12.

The DWP is also encouraging low-income pensioners who are not yet receiving Pension Credit to check their eligibility.

Successful claims can be backdated for up to three months, meaning thousands of others could still qualify for final living expenses payments.

If you think you are eligible but are not claiming pension credit, please submit a claim before March 5.

This ensures that any payments can be made backdated and within the qualifying period for the £299 living expenses payment.

The first tranche of support of £900, worth £301, was paid out to more than eight million households in April and May last year.

The second installment, £300, was paid from October 31 to November 19.

It follows the £650 living costs payment paid to more than eight million people in 2022.

Who is eligible for cost of living benefits?

The full list of benefits that make people eligible for the payment is:

Universal credit
Income-related jobseeker's allowance
Income-related employment and support benefit
Income support
Working tax benefit
Child tax credit
Pension credit

As mentioned, you must have been entitled to one of the above benefits between November 13 and December 12 to be eligible.

If it is later determined between the same dates that you are entitled to the benefit, you will also be eligible for the benefit.

Households with only tax credits will receive their payment from HMRC later in February to ensure households with other benefits and tax credits do not receive this twice.

What other help is available?

If you don't qualify for the £299 living costs payment, or even if you do and still need help, other support is offered.

The Household Support Fund is worth £842 million and is shared between councils in England.

They then decide how to divide their portion.

But what you are entitled to depends on where you live, as each local authority sets its own eligibility criteria.

In the vast majority of cases, you are eligible if you are on benefits, have a low income or are struggling financially.

Contact your local council to see if assistance is offered.

You may also be able to claim a free subsidy from your energy company if you are struggling to pay.

British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF are among the major companies offering help.

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the company, but you will usually need to prove that you have energy debt or are experiencing fuel poverty.

The government classes fuel poverty, for example when a household has to spend a “large part” of its income to keep the temperature at a reasonable level.

It's worth checking whether you're also eligible for benefits, after the latest figures from analytics firm Policy in Practice show that £19 billion of support goes unclaimed every year.

There are several free online calculators you can use to find out what you may qualify for:

Not only can claiming benefits help you earn extra money from the benefits themselves, but it can also help you qualify for the £299 living expenses payment.

The post The exact code to recognize as a £299 cost of living payment will appear on bills within HOURS appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.