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What could the Autumn Statement mean for me?

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On Thursday (17 November) the Government announced its Autumn Statement, with details of spending plans for the next year. It covered a number of different areas, with announcements around benefits, cost of living support, national living wage and energy prices. Here we look at what it could mean for people with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Please visit our Hub for more information, support and guidance about the cost of living with CF. If you can’t find what you are looking for, or need more immediate support please contact our Helpline.

1. Energy Price Guarantee

This scheme caps the price you pay for each unit of energy and will continue for an additional 12 months from April 2023. This means fixing the cost of energy so that a typical household pays the equivalent of £3,000 on their energy bills a year.  

2. Cost of living payments for households receiving means-tested benefits

A number of cost of living payments were made this winter, including a £400 payment for all households with a domestic electricity connection in England, Scotland and Wales. This universal support will end, but £900 will be paid in the 2023/24 financial year for households receiving: 

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

3. Cost of living payments for people receiving disability benefits

£150 will be paid in the 2023/24 financial year to individuals receiving: 

  • Disability Living Allowance 
  • Personal Independence Payment 
  • Attendance Allowance 
  • Scottish Disability Benefits 
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment 
  • Constant Attendance Allowance 
  • War Pension Mobility Supplement 

4. Benefits to go up

Working age and disability benefits will increase in April 2023 in line with inflation. This means that they will rise by the previous September’s inflation figure, which is 10.1%. 

5. National Living Wage

From 1 April 2023, the National Living Wage (NLW), which is the minimum pay rate for those aged 23 and above, will increase by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour. Rates will also be increased for people aged 21-22 by 10.9% to £10.18 an hour, for those aged 18-20 by 9.7% to £7.49 an hour, for those aged 16-17 by 9.7% to £5.28 an hour, and for apprentices by 9.7% to £5.28 an hour. 

Read our response to the Autumn Statement here.

We have a number of welfare grants available to help support people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families through challenging times. Find out more here.

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