Help with cost of Living 20 November 2022 at 11:17AM in Benefits & tax credits 3 replies 282 views

aayush

Hi
seen the post by Maritn re the above that some people who earn inder£50 k can get help 
But filled in the details and say can get help 
but not want to get caught in the trap and then asked for the money back as this happened when I was temping and got letters saying overpaid tax credit paid it back then still got letters when I said I have proof that it has been paid and account details then the letters stopped then the same letters start to come my wife I did same asked for proof as I had paid so why asking for the money again 
we are tight as it is with electric bill mortgage and petrol prices up but my salary not been for me for over 4 years 

My wife has her salary put in her account does that make difference she work 4am to 10 am 5 days week  

elsien

Have you checked your eligibility via the criteria on here?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment?_ga=2.207049882.843099429.1668939735-2111014116.1668939735&_gac=1.15926018.1668939735.EAIaIQobChMI_qGZ-8S8-wIVgdLtCh19tgucEAAYASAAEgJv6PD_BwE

poppy12345

The cost of living payments such as the £650 this year were for those that received a payment for certain means tested benefits between a specific date. If you weren't claiming any benefits then you wouldn't have been entitled to it it.

There's a £400 energy grant paid between Oct - March of £66/£67 per month if you're named on a electric energy account.

You can see the criteria of all the cost of living payments here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

If you're not currently claiming any means tested benefits you can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=066f8a97-0629-43d1-9a1e-8c07005afb19

Spoonie_Turtle

If the results say you can get Universal Credit, based on your joint income, then it would be fine.
UC is calculated monthly, whereas Tax Credits was done annually which is what led to lots of overpayments.  UC takes changes of circumstance and changes of income into account in the month they happen, so there's no annual finalising/adjustment needed.