Low-income households on means-tested benefits will receive first part of the ‘cost of living’ payment by the end of July, with some receiving the payment this week. The money will be automatically paid into their bank, building society or credit union account. Second instalment of £324 will be paid in the autumn.

The payment is tax-free, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment 

The cost-of-living crisis is really impacting many residents across Haringey and beyond, but there is help and support available:

Check out our Haringey, Here to Help webpage to find help with the cost of food, energy, and other household essentials, through to support with housing and employment. You can also try our benefits calculator, to see what benefits you could get.

We know this is a really difficult time as many of us are facing rising living costs. If you’re struggling to afford the essentials, or need support of any kind, please do not suffer in silence – help is available.

Struggling to pay rent or mortgage

It is really important that you keep up to date with your rent or mortgage payments. If you owe rent or have mortgage arrears and are struggling to pay, or your landlord has asked you to leave, get some advice as soon as you can. Get advice if you are struggling to pay the rent or mortgage.

Information is available if you’re an Enfield Council tenant and having trouble paying your rent.

Help with paying rent

If you need help paying your rent, you can claim Universal Credit.

You can only claim Housing Benefit if you:

• live in temporary accommodation
• live in supported accommodation
• are of state pension age

For more information and to make a claim, see Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

Discretionary Housing Payments

If you’re getting help through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, but are still struggling to pay rent, you may qualify for a Discretionary Housing Payment

Help with paying Council Tax

If you need help paying your Council Tax, you can claim Council Tax Support.

For more information and to make a claim, see Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support

Council Tax Support Hardship payments

If you’re getting help through Council Tax Support, but are still struggling to pay Council Tax, you may qualify for a Council Tax Support Hardship payment.

If you have claimed Discretionary Housing Payments, this claim will also be considered for Council Tax Support Hardship

Welfare advice and debt support

If you have debts to the council

The Welfare Advice and Debt Support team provides support to customers who are vulnerable and affected by debts to the council.

For more information, see our welfare advice and support page.

Disabled children are being forced to go without electricity or heating because their families are being disproportionately harmed by the cost-of-living crisis, according to research by a children’s charity.

The Childhood Trust said that the rising cost of energy bills and other inflation was affecting the families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) even more than their mainstream counterparts.

Families with Send children needed an extra £581 a month on average before the pandemic – the equivalent of a £10,000 a year pay rise before tax for average earners – to have the same standard of living as those without special needs, according to the trust’s report, People don’t understand.

“Adjusted for inflation, that [£581 figure] is going to be much higher now,” said Laurence Guinness, chief executive of the Childhood Trust, which supports more than 200 grassroots charities.

“We know everyone’s been disadvantaged, but I think the data tells us that kids with Send are suffering disproportionately, which is really alarming because they are our most vulnerable.

“During Covid old people were disproportionately affected – they were dying in care homes at alarming rates. This is another scenario akin to that where the weakest, the most vulnerable, the ones who should get the most support and protection are in fact massively lacking support and [are] invisible.”

Today, the Childhood Trust launched its Champions for Children appeal, a two-week fundraising campaign aiming to raise £3.5m for a year-long comprehensive programme of services for 100,000 vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

For its research the trust surveyed social workers, charities and children with Send and their parents, and discovered that children had been forced to miss meals because of the cost-of-living crisis or had struggled to keep the heating going. Some had missed school several times over the past three months and reported being bullied in mainstream settings.

Raising a child with special needs is more expensive because things that other parents take for granted become much harder. Children might need a hoist to get them in or out of a wheelchair, an electric adjustable bed to avoid injury or a dedicated fridge for medicines – adding to a family’s electricity bill. Other extra costs include specialist transport, medical equipment and sanitary protection.

Social workers told researchers they were also less able to provide specialised transport, arrange day trips or provide personal care or medical equipment. More than half said that it had become harder for parents to simply secure a diagnosis.

“There’s been times when the [pre-paid] electricity [meter] has gone off completely,” said Sylvia, a single mother in London whose 18-year-old son is autistic, has ADHD, a heart defect and knee problems that add up to about 15 hospital appointments a year.