Cost of Living payment LATEST: Universal Credit recipients start getting £324 cash boost – but some will have to wait | The Sun

MARTIN Lewis returned last night for another installment of his Money Show as he offered tips and tricks for overcoming the Cost of Living Crisis.

One tip offered by the MoneySavingExpert was to simply lower your thermostat by 1 degree. By making this slight change, Martin recommended going from 21c to 20c, you could save a staggering 10% on your heating bills.

Meanwhile, Brits started receiving their second Cost of Living Payment as the £324 cash boost began hitting bank accounts.

To be eligible for the cash, you will have to claim at least one of these benefits; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit and Universal Credit.

Read our cost of living live blog below for the latest updates…

  • Louis Allwood

    Martin Lewis gives urgent advice

    Martin Lewis has dished out some urgent advice as 300,000 Brits urgently need to claim £150.

    During last night's Money saving show, the expert explained that a government cost-of-living payment was going unclaimed and is due to expire.

    The council tax rebate has a deadline of November 30 and it is looming.

    This is for council properties bracket A-D according to the money expert.

    To see if you can claim money, you can find out which band you're in by using the Government's search tool – just enter your postcode.

  • Shanine Bruder

    Check if you can get an energy grant

    There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out during difficult financial times.

    British Gas has opened applications for struggling households to claim up to £1,500 – but you need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this help.

    You can also ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:

    • Bulb energy fund
    • EDF’s energy customer support fund
    • E.on’s energy fund
    • Npower’s energy fund
    • Octopus Energy Octo Assist fund
    • Ovo’s debt and energy assistance
    • Scottish Power’s hardship fund

    Warm Banks opening across the region

    In a bid to support those under financial pressure, a number of Warm Banks are opening up across the region to provide residents with a safe place to stay warm this winter.

    These warm spaces are usually in a heated building, which members of the public can use to help them save on their home energy bills.

    You can find your nearest warm space here.

    • Shanine Bruder

      Morrisons announces permanent cut to café prices

      In a bid to support customers during the current cost of living crisis, Morrisons has announced it is permanently reducing the price of over half the hot dishes in its cafés, allowing customers to eat out for less.

      The food options seeing a price reduction include fish and chips and the full breakfast – this will also include the Scottish vegan and vegetarian versions of the meal.

      The fish and chips will now cost just £6.99, the breakfasts £5.99 and a burger served with chips and coleslaw will cost just £5.99.

      These new prices will be a permanent fixture for the supermarket chain and not a promotional offer.

      Morrisons has announced it is permanently reducing the price of over half the hot dishes in its cafés
    • Shanine Bruder

      Free breakfast for hospital staff at Oswestry Hospital

      Staff at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital are being provided with free breakfasts in a bid to support staff through the cost-of-living crisis, the Shropshire Star reports.

      The hospital is also offering staff main meals at £2 – almost half the cost, as financial pressures mount up across the region.

      Free tea, coffee and squash has also been made available for all wards and departments.

    • Shanine Bruder

      How cost of living payment affects those on benefits and tax credits

      According to gov.uk, you may receive a payment of £650 paid in two lump sums of £326 and £324 if you get payments of any of the following:

      • Universal Credit
      • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
      • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
      • Income Support
      • Pension Credit
      • Child Tax Credit
      • Working Tax Credit

      Major update to prices at Primark

      As concern grows around the winter price hikes and inflation currently sits at 10.1%, Primark have announced they will not increase any more prices before next autumn.

      Primark boss, George Weston said that rising prices would have been bad for both the company’s sales and its reputation.

      He added: ”In a year in which it was clear that our consumers will have less money, not more, to push prices on them would a) probably be destructive of sales volume in the year, and b) would be damaging to our reputation in the long run.

      “It just wasn’t the right thing to do. We’re going to have these dollar rates for a couple of years, I reckon, but we’re going to have Primark, I hope, being known to be the consumer’s friend, and the best-value retailer on the high street, I hope for years to come.

      “So it’s an investment in our consumers, it’s an investment in the future, it’s a statement of reality, and maybe, just maybe, it’s no bad time to put a bit of pressure on some others that we compete with.”

      You can get free debt advice

      If you’re in debt, there are plenty of services you can use to access free advice on how to manage debt.

      Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.

      • Money Helper – 0800 138 7777
      • Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
      • StepChange – 0800 138 1111
      • National Debtline – 0808 808 4000

      Shoppers face £682 grocery bill rise

      As food prices continue to rise, shoppers across the UK face a £682 grocery bill rise.

      Grocery price inflation has now hit a record 14.7%.

      Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “Yet again, we have a new record high figure for grocery price inflation and it’s too early right now to call the top.

      “Consumers face a £682 jump in their annual grocery bill if they continue to buy the same items, and just over a quarter of all households now say they’re struggling financially, which is double the proportion we recorded last November.

      “Nine in 10 of this group say higher food and drink prices are a major concern, second only to energy bills, so it’s clear just how much grocery inflation is hitting people’s wallets and adding to their domestic worries.”

      • Shanine Bruder

        Brits are having to choose between paying for prescriptions and eating

        As the cost of living crisis continues to affect households across the region, many are being forced to choose between paying for prescriptions and putting food on the table, medics have warned.

        Mike Hewitson, a pharmacist from Somerset, told The Sun that some of his patients are having to “choose between treatment or eating.”

        “And it’s not just patients on benefits,” he explained.

        The pharmacist has also seen youngsters people try and return medicines.

        “Younger people are having to pay higher rents are also struggling to make ends meet.”

        In some cases, a number of pharmacists have started covering the cost of prescriptions for their patients.

        Ade Williams, a pharmacist from Bristol said: “It breaks the heart of many pharmacists knowing and seeing people not able to pay for their prescriptions.

        “Many of us sometimes pay out of our pockets for them without even letting them knowing.”

        Medicines people are choosing not to take to save money include antibiotics, painkillers, asthma inhalers, blood pressure medication and antidepressants.

        In a letter, sent to the new chancellor, GPs from St Helens, Merseyside called on the Government “increase the number of people eligible for free prescriptions“.

        Those who are not entitled to free prescriptions currently have to pay £9.35.

      • Shanine Bruder

        Essex University offers support for students during cost of living crisis

        Essex university is extending its current hardship fund to cover travel and childcare costs, in a bid to continue to help students facing financial pressures.

        The university, which has campuses in Colchester, Southend and Loughton, previously totalled their hardship fund at £489,000.

        The hardship fund available to Essex University students now sits at £1.5million.

      • Shanine Bruder

        This is how Brits are reducing their household energy use

        With rising energy costs adding to the current cost-of-living crisis, a new YouGov Political Research survey has provided an insight into how Brits are reducing their gas and electricity usage.

        The survey shows that 61% have made cuts to their heating.

        46% have made the decision to use their household lighting less.

        While 40% are consciously turning devices off standby when not in use in order to save money.

        The survey also shows that 31% of Brits are reducing the amount of hot water they use, 36% are making less use of their washing machine or tumble dryer, and 22% are making the decision to use their kettle less.

      • Henry Moore

        Martin Lewis shares 12 tips to save on bills

        Tonight, Martin Lewis shared 12 helpful tips to help you save on bills this winter.

        Here are just a couple:

        One degree challenge

        Martin says to take his one degree challenge in this household and try reducing temperature from 21 to 20C.

        This could save up to 10% on your heating bill, with 18C fine for healthy adults according to the WHO.

        Trying to reduce even one degree will save on your heating bill so don't turn your thermostat up when you are cold.

        Boiler challenge

        The Moneysavingboilerchallenge.com is of key interest to the expert.

        Martin advises how to turn down the flow rate on combi boilers which most people own.

        He said you should want the temperature to be around 60C but most peoples have set it higher – this is inefficient and wastes heat.

        Remember, turning it down doesn’t affect the heat of house and water temperature.

        See the other 10 tips here.

      • Henry Moore

        That's all folks!

        That marks the end of the Martin Lewis Money Show for tonight.

        His tips tonight were top draw!

      • Henry Moore

        Nothing we can do about soaring mortgage rates, says Martin Lewis

        Responding to a guest tonight, Martin Lewis warned that we can't do much about soaring mortgage rates.

        Following Liz Truss's disastrous mini budget, mortgage rates soared.

        Despite this warning, he offered some advice.

        "Save now," he said. "Build a savings war chest."

      • Henry Moore

        Martin Lewis says: CHECK YOUR SAVINGS NOW

        Tonight Martin Lewis urged Brits to check how much interest their savings are gathering.

        He called anything under 1% interest a "rip off"

        Martin namechecked Barclays as offering a great savings account interest rate.

      • Henry Moore

        Claim your £150 cost of living payment NOW

        Martin Lewis revealed tonight that 300,000 Brits in council tax bracket D, who are owed a £150 cost of living payment, are yet to claim the cash.

        You only have until November 30 to claim – so don't miss out!

      • Henry Moore

        Martin Lewis reveals if YOU will receive today's £324 payment

        Martin Lewis revealed tonight if you are eligible for the £324 cost of living payment that started hitting bank accounts today.

        You should get the cash if you claim any of the following:

        • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
        • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
        • Income Support
        • Working Tax Credit
        • Child Tax Credit
        • Pension Credit
        • Universal Credit

        Octopus pins blame on oil giants

        Tonight on the Martin Lewis Money Show, Octopus Energy pinned the blame on the current energy crisis on the world's biggest energy giants.

        How to get a free warm electric blanket

        Martin Lewis revealed tonight that Octopus provides free electric blankets to struggling Brits.

        Simply head to the energy supplier's website to claim one of these handy appliances.

        Some key tips from Martin Lewis this evening

        Tonight, Martin Lewis shared a number of key tips to get your heating bill down.

        From cutting your thermostat by 1 degree to leaving your bath full for a little while after you are finished with it.