British Chancellor Of The Exchequer Rishi Sunak has unveiled a bumper pack of measures aimed at helping the poorest Brits through the cost of living crisis. Amongst the new measures being introduced is a new £1500 payment which will form part of a massive £21bn package. The new funds were made available to help people with the cost of their energy bills which have been steeply rising due to inflation caused by the side effects of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Every house hold within the UK will receive a £4oo aimed at easing the cost of energy bills which have been rising, sometimes out of control due to the cost of raw materials which are needed to produce the different kinds of power people need to heat their homes or do other activities such as do the vacuuming or decide what electrical equipment they can put on and when.
The new funding will be divided amongst the population depending on their level of ability and need. For example, a household where there is someone living who is disabled will get a little bit more funding to help cater for their needs and the types of equipment that they’ll need to use due to their condition. This is aimed at helping to lessen the burden imposed on people due to their health condition or other circumstances.
The money will be divided amongst people in the following ways.
Everybody will receive £400 to help with the cost of their energy bills. This will be provided regardless of that person’s income and will be classed as a hand out which is credited to that customers account from October onwards, and will be spread over a six month period. People with second homes will be able to receive two payments which will help cater for the needs of both properties.
People who are classed as most vulnerable and may be on means tested benefits will also be sent cash payments of £650 paid in two instalments. The first will arrive in July and the second in Autumn. It is thought that this incorporates more than eight million households.
Pensioners will receive a cost of living payment of £300 and this will go to every household where there is someone of pensionable age living. It is aimed at helping people who are in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments and will be paid automatically in November or December.
The nearly six million people who receive disability payments including Personal Independence Payments, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance will receive an extra £150 from the Department For Work and Pensions. This will be paid out in September and will help cater for the extra costs that people may incur as a result of the support they need for their condition.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Sunak revealed families across the country can expect money off their sky-rocketing bills, which are set to rise to £2,800 a year from October, funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas firms.
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The Chancellor also announced:
A Windfall tax on gas and oil firms to partially fund the support
£300 one-off payment to low-income pensioners
£150 extra one-off disability payment
£400 energy discount for EVERY household
An extra £500million for the Household Support Fund
Six million Brits with disabilities will also be handed an additional £150.
Finally, a staggering £500m will be added to the Household Support Fund to assist those most in need combat the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills.
Mr Sunak told MPs: “We need to make sure that for those whom the struggle is too hard and for whom the risks are too great they are supported.
“This Government will not sit idly by while there is a risk that some in our country might be set so far back they might never recover.
“This is simply unacceptable and we will never allow that to happen.
“And I want to reassure everybody that we will get through this, we have the tools and the determination we need to combat and reduce inflation, we will make sure the most vulnerable and least well-off get the support they need at this time of difficulty, and we will turn this moment of difficulty into a springboard for economic renewal and growth.”
