Help for Households is available and help is available for every household.
You may have seen the government’s national advertising campaign for ‘Help For Households’. We’ve broken it down below – everything from income support, paying your tax bill, childcare and household costs.
Help is available for every household, but if you are unsure – speak to the Robinsons team.
Help For Households: INCOME SUPPORT
Get help if you cannot pay your tax bill
Contact Robinsons as soon as possible if you cannot pay your tax bill. We’re here to help, and you may be able to pay what you owe in instalments, depending on your circumstances and what you can afford.
Speak to the Robinsons team if you are struggling to pay your tax bill.
Increasing the level at which you pay National Insurance
From July, employees who earn £36,600 or under (around 70% of workers) will pay less National Insurance. A typical employee will save over £330 a year.
This means you can earn £12,570 a year completely tax-free.
Claim Marriage Allowance
Marriage Allowance allows you to transfer 10% (£1,260) of your personal tax allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner if you earn less than the personal tax allowance, which is usually £12,570.
Extra money available for carers
You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Child Trust Funds
A Child Trust Fund is a long-term tax-free savings account for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.
For those who hold an account but do not know the Child Trust Fund provider, or if you’re unsure whether you have one or not, we can help you find out.
Help For Households: HOUSEHOLD COSTS
Household Support Fund
£1.5 billion has been made available to support the most vulnerable to cover their essential daily costs, like energy bills. Recipients include pensioners and families with children.
Local authorities can also issue food vouchers to families during the school holidays.
Speak to your local authority.
95% mortgages for homes up to £600,000
You may be eligible to borrow up to 95% of the cost of a property worth up to £600,000 thanks to the mortgage guarantee scheme.
Contact mortgage providers to see if you’re eligible.
Cost of Living Payment
Households on means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive a payment of £650 this year, paid automatically in two instalments.
The first payment of £326 was made in summer. The second payment of £324 will be made by DWP to eligible customers between 8 and 23 November, and by HMRC between 23 and 30 November (to customers receiving tax credits only and no other eligible DWP benefits).
This is in addition to the £400 discount on energy bills.
Disability Cost of Living Payment
From 20th September, 6 million people who are paid certain disability benefits will receive an automatic one-off £150 payment. The payment will help disabled people with the rising Cost of Living acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as care and mobility needs.
This is in addition to the £650 Cost of Living Payment for disabled people who also receive means tested benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment
In the winter months pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills.
This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Council Tax rebate
If you live in Council Tax bands A to D in England you’ll get £150 back from your Council Tax bill (4 out of 5 households in England).
For most people the rebate is automatic, however if you don’t pay your Council Tax by direct debit then get in touch with your Council.
Budgeting loans
You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months. This can be used for household items, rent in advance and travelling costs.
Help paying your water bill
Many water companies run hardship schemes or fund independent charitable trusts which can help you pay your bills. Speak to your local water company.
TV Licence fee freeze
The TV licence fee has been frozen at £159 until 2024. This means households will not see any change to the licence fee until 1 April 2024.
Get help with all or part of your rent
If you are on means tested benefits, you may get help with all or part of your rent.
There’s no set amount of housing costs support and what you get will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council or housing association.
Council Tax support schemes
Councils run support schemes to help people on low incomes with their Council Tax bill.
Contact your local Council to find out what support you can get
Discretionary Housing Payments
If you are on certain benefits you may be eligible for Discretionary Housing Payments which provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs.
Get help with interest payments on mortgages or loans
If you’re a homeowner on qualifying benefits, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on your mortgage or loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home.
Help For Households: CHILDCARE COSTS
Tax-free childcare
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the cost of childcare.
30 hours free childcare
Eligible working families in England with 3 and 4 year old children can receive 30 hours of free childcare a week.
15 hours free childcare
Families in England who have 2 year old children and are on certain benefits can get 15 hours of free childcare a week.
All families with children aged 3 and 4 can also access 15 hours of free childcare a week.
Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
under 16
under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
Claim back childcare costs
You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, with up to £646 back each month for one child or £1,108 for 2 or more children.
Apply for free school meals
Free school meals are available to pupils in England during term time if parents get certain benefits.
Holiday activities and food programme
You can get access to free activities and food for your children in the holidays if they receive free school meals.
The programme runs through the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays this year.
Contact your children/s School or local council.
National Breakfast Clubs
All participating schools will receive a 75% government subsidy for breakfast club provision, with 25% from other funding streams.
Contact your children/s School.
Claim Healthy Start vouchers
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
Get help with maternity costs
You could claim a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child.
Help For Households: TRAVEL
Get around by bus for £2
More than 130 bus operators across England have signed up to cap single bus fares at £2 from 1 January to 31 March 2023, thanks to £60 million in government funding. The cap could save people almost a third of the average bus fare outside London (£2.80), while in some rural areas bus tickets can reach over £5 for a single journey.
Visit your local bus operator website for more information about the £2 cap in your area.
Traveline.info can also be used to plan journeys and find more information on £2 routes.
Save 1/3rd on rail journeys
You can get up to a third off train fares with a railcard in Great Britain, saving up to £142 a year on average.
Cutting fuel duty
Fuel duty for petrol and diesel has been cut by 5 pence per litre across the whole of the UK until March 2023. It saves £100 for the average car driver, £200 for the average van driver and £1,500 for the average haulier.
Help For Households
Help for Households is available and help is available for every household.
You may have seen the government’s national advertising campaign for ‘Help For Households’. We’ve broken it down below – everything from income support, paying your tax bill, childcare and household costs.
Help is available for every household, but if you are unsure – speak to the Robinsons team.
Help For Households: INCOME SUPPORT
Get help if you cannot pay your tax bill
Contact Robinsons as soon as possible if you cannot pay your tax bill. We’re here to help, and you may be able to pay what you owe in instalments, depending on your circumstances and what you can afford.
Speak to the Robinsons team if you are struggling to pay your tax bill.
Increasing the level at which you pay National Insurance
From July, employees who earn £36,600 or under (around 70% of workers) will pay less National Insurance. A typical employee will save over £330 a year.
This means you can earn £12,570 a year completely tax-free.
Claim Marriage Allowance
Marriage Allowance allows you to transfer 10% (£1,260) of your personal tax allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner if you earn less than the personal tax allowance, which is usually £12,570.
Extra money available for carers
You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Child Trust Funds
A Child Trust Fund is a long-term tax-free savings account for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.
For those who hold an account but do not know the Child Trust Fund provider, or if you’re unsure whether you have one or not, we can help you find out.
Help For Households: HOUSEHOLD COSTS
Household Support Fund
£1.5 billion has been made available to support the most vulnerable to cover their essential daily costs, like energy bills. Recipients include pensioners and families with children.
Local authorities can also issue food vouchers to families during the school holidays.
Speak to your local authority.
95% mortgages for homes up to £600,000
You may be eligible to borrow up to 95% of the cost of a property worth up to £600,000 thanks to the mortgage guarantee scheme.
Contact mortgage providers to see if you’re eligible.
Cost of Living Payment
Households on means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive a payment of £650 this year, paid automatically in two instalments.
The first payment of £326 was made in summer. The second payment of £324 will be made by DWP to eligible customers between 8 and 23 November, and by HMRC between 23 and 30 November (to customers receiving tax credits only and no other eligible DWP benefits).
This is in addition to the £400 discount on energy bills.
Disability Cost of Living Payment
From 20th September, 6 million people who are paid certain disability benefits will receive an automatic one-off £150 payment. The payment will help disabled people with the rising Cost of Living acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as care and mobility needs.
This is in addition to the £650 Cost of Living Payment for disabled people who also receive means tested benefits.
Winter Fuel Payment
In the winter months pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills.
This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Council Tax rebate
If you live in Council Tax bands A to D in England you’ll get £150 back from your Council Tax bill (4 out of 5 households in England).
For most people the rebate is automatic, however if you don’t pay your Council Tax by direct debit then get in touch with your Council.
Budgeting loans
You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months. This can be used for household items, rent in advance and travelling costs.
Help paying your water bill
Many water companies run hardship schemes or fund independent charitable trusts which can help you pay your bills. Speak to your local water company.
TV Licence fee freeze
The TV licence fee has been frozen at £159 until 2024. This means households will not see any change to the licence fee until 1 April 2024.
Get help with all or part of your rent
If you are on means tested benefits, you may get help with all or part of your rent.
There’s no set amount of housing costs support and what you get will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council or housing association.
Council Tax support schemes
Councils run support schemes to help people on low incomes with their Council Tax bill.
Contact your local Council to find out what support you can get
Discretionary Housing Payments
If you are on certain benefits you may be eligible for Discretionary Housing Payments which provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs.
Get help with interest payments on mortgages or loans
If you’re a homeowner on qualifying benefits, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on your mortgage or loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home.
Help For Households: CHILDCARE COSTS
Tax-free childcare
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the cost of childcare.
30 hours free childcare
Eligible working families in England with 3 and 4 year old children can receive 30 hours of free childcare a week.
15 hours free childcare
Families in England who have 2 year old children and are on certain benefits can get 15 hours of free childcare a week.
All families with children aged 3 and 4 can also access 15 hours of free childcare a week.
Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
Claim back childcare costs
You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, with up to £646 back each month for one child or £1,108 for 2 or more children.
Apply for free school meals
Free school meals are available to pupils in England during term time if parents get certain benefits.
Holiday activities and food programme
You can get access to free activities and food for your children in the holidays if they receive free school meals.
The programme runs through the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays this year.
Contact your children/s School or local council.
National Breakfast Clubs
All participating schools will receive a 75% government subsidy for breakfast club provision, with 25% from other funding streams.
Contact your children/s School.
Claim Healthy Start vouchers
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
Get help with maternity costs
You could claim a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child.
Help For Households: TRAVEL
Get around by bus for £2
More than 130 bus operators across England have signed up to cap single bus fares at £2 from 1 January to 31 March 2023, thanks to £60 million in government funding. The cap could save people almost a third of the average bus fare outside London (£2.80), while in some rural areas bus tickets can reach over £5 for a single journey.
Visit your local bus operator website for more information about the £2 cap in your area.
Traveline.info can also be used to plan journeys and find more information on £2 routes.
Save 1/3rd on rail journeys
You can get up to a third off train fares with a railcard in Great Britain, saving up to £142 a year on average.
Cutting fuel duty
Fuel duty for petrol and diesel has been cut by 5 pence per litre across the whole of the UK until March 2023. It saves £100 for the average car driver, £200 for the average van driver and £1,500 for the average haulier.
If you have a question and want to check you eligibility – speak to the Robinsons Team
*Content Credit: gov.co.uk
Archives
Categories
Archives
Recent Post
Categories
Portfolio
Meta
Calender