MSE News: Chancellor's Autumn Statement 2022: New £900 cost of living payments and more

MSE_Helen_K

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has today (17 November) announced that a new £900 cost of living payment will be paid to those who need it most, and the state pension and most state benefits - including universal credit - WILL rise by 10.1% next April. The measures come as part of today's Autumn Statement, which also contains major changes to the Government's energy support package. 

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Chancellor's Autumn Statement 2022: New £900 cost of living payments, state pension to rise 10.1%, plus other key announcements

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MSE_James

Whilst we welcome your questions and initial reactions to the latest Government announcements, please remember when replying to this thread that this board's focus is on helping people get the support they are entitled to, rather than debating the rights and wrongs of benefits policy.

nannytone_2

If you don't want the subject discussed hrtr, yjrn you nrrd to bring back the money saving arms or signpost the relevant discussion board on MSE that has replaced it

diystarter7

Pension age rise. Please get Martin & Co to chase these jokers as they must have (us inc) made millions worried sick at the prospect of state pension age rising again but we won't find out for a good 6 months or more. Thanks.

GrahamChap

Why does the Chancellor exclude Housing Benefit as a Means Tested benefit for deciding whether pensioners get extra payments or not? We are £100 over the limit to get pension credit so we do not get the £1350.

Muttleythefrog

MSE_James said:

Whilst we welcome your questions and initial reactions to the latest Government announcements, please remember when replying to this thread that this board's focus is on helping people get the support they are entitled to, rather than debating the rights and wrongs of benefits policy.

It's a bit tricky.... given that policy and entitlement are inextricably linked. For example the new Warm Home Discount scheme is having to be debated by members because what 'the policy' is and what the government website says (including its form you can complete to establish entitlement) are different than what is being experienced by many members... so then it invites the query who are the intended recipients by this government and who will actually get it. Entitlement to any benefit or support is political policy and to me it seems inevitable people will ask questions of entitlement that demand a political reply... I think that's particularly acute at the moment due to the cost of living crisis/inflation as future benefit policy is going to determine whether some members can heat their home in near future or even persist. People seem to have been interested in the April (or earlier) benefit rate changes (if any) for some time because of the impact it will have - unfortunately that's where entitlement and ability to live meet future government policy. Now that future policy is announced I'm pleased MSE Admin have flagged it as a thread. It does seem a bit like trying to avoiding talking about players when discussing the game of football. I wonder if a specific thread to contain all policy related debate might be filter some to one place people can avoid or join as desired.

calcotti

GrahamChap said:

Why does the Chancellor exclude Housing Benefit as a Means Tested benefit for deciding whether pensioners get extra payments or not? We are £100 over the limit to get pension credit so we do not get the £1350.

It was previously explained that those in receipt of HB only because HB is administered by local authorities and not by DWP so would be more administratively complex. Local authorities were provided with additional support funds which they could use to support those in that situation. Check whether your local authority has details of a support fund.