Concessions

A £650 cost of living payment will be made to households on a low income who are entitled to one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (1)
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (2)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (2)
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit (3)
• Child Tax Credit (3)
• Pension Credit

(1) You won't be eligible if you had a 'nill award', where your earnings reduced your Universal Credit to £0, during the relevant qualification date (see below).

(2) This doesn't include contribution-based or new-style JSA or ESA, as these are based on your national insurance contributions and not your household income.

(3) Your annual award needed to be least £26.

How will the payments work?

The £650 will be split into two payments. The first will be for £326 and the second for £324.

Whether you're single or in a couple you will only get £650 as it's a payment for the household not the individual.

When will the payments be made?

For most, the first payment was made between 14 and 31 July 2022 (or between 2 and 7 September 2022 for people receiving tax credits) to anyone who was entitled to one of the qualifying benefits on 25 May 2022.

The second payment will made between 8 and 23 November 2022 (or slightly later for people receiving tax credits) to anyone who was entitled to one of the qualifying benefits on 25 September 2022.

Where possible, the payments will be made directly into your bank account, you won’t need to apply for them.

Pension Credit- Check whether you qualify, as even the smallest benefit payment means you'll get an extra £324

If you were entitled to Pension Credit on the qualifying day of 25 September 2022, you will be eligible for the second part of the payment (i.e. £324). To be entitled on this date you would have needed to start your claim for Pension Credit, which ended up being successful, by 19 December 2022. This is because Pension Credit claims can be backdated for up to three months.

Use the calculator below to check if you're entitled.

A £150 cost of living payment will be made to people who are receiving, or have claimed, one of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

The DWP has said the vast majority of payments will be made by early October 2022 to anyone who was receiving one of the qualifying benefits on 25 May 2022.

Where possible, the payments will be made directly into people’s bank accounts, they won’t need to apply for them.

On 10th February 2022, a Cost Of Living Award was announced as part of the 2022-23 Scottish budget. It's an additional support to help tackle the cost of living crisis. The Cost of Living Award is for £150 and was awarded to either:

• A person who lives in a dwelling in any Council Tax valuation band, is liable for Council Tax, and was in receipt of Council Tax Reduction (CTR) on the 14th February 2022
• A person who lives in and is liable for Council Tax in a band A-D dwelling on 14th February 2022, and does not receive Council Tax Reduction
• Certain types of household otherwise exempt for Council Tax:
  • all the occupants are under 18;
  • all the occupants are care leavers;
  • all the occupants are severely mentally impaired;
  • the property is unoccupied because the resident has gone to someone else's home to provide care or the resident receives care elsewhere
• Additionally, persons accessing Housing Support Service and/or living in temporary accommodation or a refuge may be eligible for payment under this scheme. Only one payment will be made in relation to any single dwelling.

A payment was incorporated in the 2022/23 annual bill. For eligible persons, this meant a reduction in monthly instalments.   Scottish Government - Cost of Living Award | Fife Council

A £300 cost of living payment will be made to households who are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Winter Fuel Payment is an automatic tax-free payment (usually paying between £100 and £300 per person, depending on age and circumstances) to most people over pension credit age. For the winter of 2022 to 2023 this means people born on or before 25 September 1956.

The cost of living amount is on top of the original Winter Fuel Payment amount, which will be paid at the same time in November or December. The payment this winter will therefore be between £250 and £600 per person, depending on age and circumstances.

Where possible, the payments will be made directly into people’s bank accounts, they won’t need to apply for them.

All Fife households with an electricity supply will receive a total of £400 towards their bill, paid in 6 instalments of £66 for October and November, £67 for December through to March. How it is applied to your electricity account depends on your usual payment method:

• Direct debit: If you pay by direct debit your supplier will either reduce your monthly payment amount being requested from your bank account or, collect your usual payment and then refund you £66 or £67 a few days later. Your supplier will have contact you by letter, email or posted on their social media channel how they plan to administer the scheme for their customers.
• Monthly or quarterly bill: If you pay your bill upon receipt, you will see the credit will have already been applied so reducing the balance that you are due.
• Prepayment smart meter: Your meter will be automatically topped up by your supplier. Some may split the payment between the gas and electricity, others may only apply it to the electricity meter.
• Prepayment traditional style: You will receive a voucher by text, email or post. Each supplier is using a different method and they should have been in contact with you to explain how they intend to issue this to you. These vouchers are unique to you, it is important that you do not share photos of the unique code with others or on social media so that only you can use the voucher.

Be aware of scams currently active around these payments. You will never be asked to “register” for the scheme. You will also never be asked for your bank details for the payment to be paid into- your supplier already holds your bank details if you pay by direct debt. All other payment methods do not require your banking information. We believe these scams are happening via text message, phone calls and email but please remain vigilant to postal scams too.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is providing support of £400 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland, and Wales, without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by His Majesty’s Government and is delivered by local authorities. The scheme is now open to all eligible households across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.

Eligibility:

Subject to applications meeting the eligibility criteria, people who will be able to receive support
under EBSS AF include:

• care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
• park home residents, houseboats, and caravans that can provide proof of address
• social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord, on a commercial supply
• homes on a heat network/private wire
• off-grid homes
• farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

How to apply:

Applications are made directly to His Majesty’s Government, not to or via Local Authorities. If you do not have online access, you can apply via a contact centre on 08081753287, where a representative will guide you through the application process.

Once you have applied, your application will be processed and verified. After this if your application is successful, your details will be shared with local authorities, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support. The payment will be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment.

Further information can be found on GOV.UK - Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically.

If you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount, you'll get £150 (previously £140) off your bills in winter 2022-23. The money will not be paid to you directly – it will be added as credit to your electricity account. This usually happens between September and March.

You need to apply for the discount through your energy supplier. The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit:

You qualify for the discount if, on the 21^st August 2022, all of the following applied:

• Your energy supplier is part of the scheme
• Your name ( or your partners) is on the bill
• You or your partner are getting the Guarantee Credit element of pension Credit ( even if you get the Savings Credit as well)

This is known as being in the “core group”

The scheme for the core group opens on 14 November 2022. You’ll receive a letter between November 2022 and January 2023 telling you about the discount if you’re eligible.

Most eligible households will receive an automatic discount. Your letter will say if you need to call a helpline by 28 February 2023 to confirm your details.

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2023.

If you do not get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit you may still be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier. All the following must apply:

• Your energy supplier is part of the scheme
• you (or your partner) get certain means-tested benefits or tax credits
• your name (or your partner’s) is on the bill
• Your supplier may have additional criteria so you need to check with them if you’re eligible.

This is known as being in the ‘broader group’.

To get the discount you’ll need to stay with your supplier until it’s paid.

How to get the discount

Your electricity supplier decides who can get the discount in Scotland.

The number of discounts suppliers can give is limited. Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Check with them even if you were eligible for a discount last year.

If you are eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2023.

Please visit the Warm Home Discount Scheme: If you’re on a low income webpage for more information.

If you live in a mobile home or park home site, you might be able to get the £150 discount as part of the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme. To get the discount you’ll need to meet the same rules as the main Warm Homes Discount Scheme. You must also:

• permanently live on a park home site
• pay for your electricity through the park, or as part of their pitch fees

You’ll need to apply for the Park Homes Warm Home Discount Scheme. You should apply as soon as possible when the scheme opens, usually in September. Register your interest in the scheme on the Park Homes Warm Home Discount website.

This is a new benefit from the Scottish government to help those on a low income keep their homes warm in winter. It has replaced the Cold Weather Payment of £25, whenever the temperature dropped below 0 degrees Celsius for 7 consecutive days.

It is paid automatically in February to everyone eligible.

Please visit the Winter Heating Payment page on the Social Security Scotland website for more information.

The Council recently agreed to provide £0.5 million funding in 2022-23 to help Fife Council tenants meet escalating energy costs. This will provide financial and other supports to tenants struggling with energy payments, or who are unable to afford to heat their property.

Get in touch with your Housing Management Officer or nearest local office if you need help to stay warm.