Cost of Living Crisis – we’re here to help you!

At Karbon, we’re committed to supporting customers throughout this cost of living crisis.

Since January 2022, our Money Matters Team, who are experts in benefits and money, have confirmed annual income gains of £2.5m for 1,111 customers.

In February, the team started to capture where ‘cost of living’ was specifically mentioned by customers, as part of the reason for the referral. Since then, the total number of existing Karbon Homes customers seeking advice was 1,954, with 12% of those customers specifically mentioning ‘cost of living’.

During this time, we have published information on our website, on our social media channels and in our At Home with Karbon magazine, to give customers as much advice and information to support you through these difficult times.

By working through things together, we can help you get a head start on winter when you’ll be using more energy.

In addition to helping you to manage your bills and budgeting, making paying your rent as easy and possible and providing you with benefits advice, we have also encouraged customers to claim for the additional grants available by the government.

In April 2022, the government announced a series of additional financial measures to support households with the cost of living crisis. Here’s an update and reminder:

£150 Council tax rebate - all households in council tax bands A-D, which they live in as their main home, will be entitled to a £150 council tax rebate. If you pay by direct debit, this will be paid automatically into your bank account by September. If you don’t pay by direct debit, your council should have been in touch with you to tell you how to apply for the rebate. Applications are still open for Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council.

Newcastle City Council (Applications must be received by 31 August 2022).

www.newcastle.gov.uk/energysupportclaim

Call 0191 278 7878 during office hours and ask for Energy Support Payment

North Tyneside Council (Applications must be received by 30 September 2022).

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1597/council-tax-energy-rebate-and-discretionary-payments

Call 0345 2000 104 during office hours for assistance

£650 cost of living payment – this was introduced to help people manage soaring inflation and rising food, fuel and energy bill prices. Those eligible for the payments include all families claiming one of seven means-tested benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). These are: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Pension Credit.

The DWP will make the payment in two lump sums. The first instalment of £326 for most benefit or tax credits should have been paid to all eligible households between 14^th and 31^st July. The second instalment of £324 will be made to eligible households later this year.

The dates of when you’ll be paid is available at the following: www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment

When you’ll be paid

£300 extra cost of living payment - for eligible pensioners, on top of the Winter Fuel Payment in November / December.

£150 disability cost of living payment - for people on eligible disability benefits in September.

£400 energy bill payment - the £400 discount is administered by energy suppliers (not Karbon) and will be paid to customers over 6 months with payments starting from October 2022, to ensure households receive financial support throughout the winter months.

Those with a domestic electricity meter point paying for their energy via standard credit, payment card and direct debit will receive an automatic deduction to their bills over the 6-month period – totalling £400.

Traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with Energy Bill discount vouchers from the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post, using the customer’s registered contact details. Customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point, such as their nearest local PayPoint or Post Office branch.

In all cases, no household should be asked for bank details at any point. We urge customers to stay alert of potential scams and report these to us on our freephone number 0808 164 0111 to report it so we can alert other customers.

More information

For free, independent support, call the Money Matters Team on 0800 164 0111 or email moneymatters@karbonhomes.co.uk