It also demanded greater transparency for fans when purchasing tickets, with at least 48-hour notice of availability in each category and where those seats will be.

BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment.

The complaint by the FSA and Euroconsumers to the European Commission says Fifa has taken advantage of its position “to impose excessive ticket prices and opaque and unfair purchasing conditions and processes on European fans”.

It said in a statement: “Fifa holds a monopoly over ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup and has used that power to impose conditions on fans that would never be acceptable in a competitive market.”

The FSA and Euroconsumers alleged “six specific abuses” of Fifa’s position.

They include accusing Fifa of bait advertising – illegal under EU consumer law – with its later release of cheaper tickets “so scarce” that it advertised a price “not genuinely available”.

About 400 £45 tickets have been made available for England and Scotland’s group matches.

FSA director Ronan Evain said the group had no option but to approach the European Commission because of Fifa’s “failure to engage in meaningful consultation”.

“Fifa point to their unconfirmed sales figures as validation of their unfair ticket practices, while the reality is they leave loyal fans with no other choice – pay up or lose out,” Evain said.

According to Fifa, almost seven million tickets have been made available for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

For one person to attend eight matches – one in each round – at the World Cup, it will cost about £5,225 in the lowest price range, £8,580 in the middle tier and £12,350 for the most expensive tickets.

In 2022 it would have cost £1,466, £2,645 or £3,914 respectively, although that was for seven games.

GENEVA (AP) — Scientists in Geneva took some antiprotons out for a spin — a very delicate one — in a truck, in a never-tried-before test drive.

If this so-called antimatter comes into contact with actual matter, even for a fraction of an instant, it will be annihilated in a quick flash of energy. So experts at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, over the course of four hours Tuesday, brought about 100 antiprotons on the road.

The antiprotons are suspended in a vacuum inside a specially designed box and held in place by supercooled magnets.

After easing them from the lab and onto the truck, the scientists transported the antimatter on a half-hour drive to test how — if at all — the infinitesimal particles could be transported by road without seeping out. Now the antiprotons are on their way back to the lab in the final stage of Tuesday’s experiment.

The hard part: Manipulating antimatter, like antiprotons, can be tricky business. As scientists understand the universe today, for every type particle that exists, there is a corresponding antiparticle, exactly matching the particle but with an opposite charge.

If those opposites come into contact, they “annihilate” each other, setting off lots of energy, depending on the masses involved. Any bumps in the road on the test journey that aren’t compensated for by the specially-designed box could spoil the whole exercise.

Tuesday’s practice is a first step toward making good on hopes, one day, to deliver CERN antiprotons to researchers at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany, which is about eight hours away in normal driving conditions.

The antiprotons have been encased in a 1,000-kilogram (2,200 pounds) box called a “transportable antiproton trap.” It’s compact enough to fit through ordinary laboratory doors and fit on a truck. It uses superconducting magnets cooled to -269 degrees Celsius (-452 Fahrenheit) that allows the antiprotons to be remain suspended in a vacuum — not touching the inner walls, which are made of … matter.

The mass in Tuesday’s test — slightly less than that of about 100 hydrogen atoms — is so little, experts say, that the worst possible outcome is the loss of the antiprotons. Even if they do touch matter, any release of energy would be unnoticeable, only an oscilloscope, which picks up electrical signals, would be able to detect it.

The trap, says CERN spokeswoman Sophie Tesauri, “is supposed to contain these antiprotons no matter what: if the truck stops, if it starts again, if it has to slam on the brakes — all that.” Work remains: The trap can contain the antiprotons on its own for only about four hours, and the drive to Düsseldorf is twice that.

The Geneva-based center is best known for its Large Hadron Collider, a network of magnets that accelerates particles through a 27-kilometer (17-mile) underground tunnel and slams them together at velocities approaching the speed of light. Scientists then study the results of those collisions.

But the sprawling, buzzing complex of scientific experiment is more than just about smashing atoms together: the World Wide Web, for example, was invented here by Britain’s Tim Berners-Lee in 1989.

Heinrich Heine University is seen as a better place to study antiprotons in-depth, because CERN — with all its other activities — generates a lot of magnetic interference that can skew the study of antimatter.

But to get them there, those antiprotons will have to avoid touching anything on the way.

The center’s Antiproton Decelerator, where a proton beam gets fired into a block of metal, causes collisions that generate secondary particles, including lots of antiprotons. It’s billed as a unique machine that produces low-energy antiprotons for the study of antimatter.

CERN’s “Antimatter Factory,” lab officials say, is the only place in the world where scientists can store and study antiprotons.

The center has been experimenting with antimatter for years, and has made breakthroughs on measurement, storage and interaction of antimatter. Two years ago, the team transported a “cloud” of about 70 protons — not antiprotons — across CERN’s campus.

It’s a similar drill this time, except that with antiprotons, a much better vacuum chamber is needed, according to Christian Smorra, head of a team behind the apparatus designed to store and transport antimatter.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A major Russian drone and missile attack on civilian areas of Ukraine killed four people and injured at least 27, officials said Tuesday, while Moscow’s army stepped up efforts to break through Ukrainian front-line defenses in what could be the start of an anticipated spring ground offensive.

Russia fired almost 400 long-range drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force said, in its biggest attack in weeks. The onslaught continued into Tuesday morning as dozens of drones targeted the capital Kyiv during daylight.

Russia also launched 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles at Ukraine during the night, hitting at least 10 locations across the country, according to the air force.

Ukrainian civilians have endured relentless barrages since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago. U.S-brokered talks between Moscow and Kyiv over the past year have brought no respite, with Russia rejecting Ukraine’s offer of a ceasefire, and in recent weeks the Iran war has diverted international attention from Ukraine’s plight.

On the roughly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line snaking along eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, the short-handed defenders have been bracing for a new offensive by Russia’s bigger army as the weather improves.

The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russian troops in recent days have made simultaneous attempts to break through defensive lines in several strategic areas.

“Fierce fighting unfolded along the entire line of contact,” Syrskyi said Monday on the Telegram messaging app, with Russia launching 619 attacks in four days.

“The occupiers are attempting to bring up new units and are preparing to continue attacks,” Syrskyi said, adding that Ukraine had deployed reinforcements to counter the assaults.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said Syrskyi’s report backed up its assessment that Russia’s spring-summer offensive is now underway.

Russia has escalated its strikes since March 17 and has moved heavy equipment and more troops to the front line, the ISW said late Monday.

Each year, as the weather improves, Russia has moved its grinding war of attrition up a gear. However, it has been unable to capture cities and has made only incremental gains across rural areas. Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine. That includes the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014.

Ukraine has developed advanced drone technology to make up for its shortage of infantry.

Amid the Middle East conflict, Kyiv is offering Ukraine’s battle-tested drone defenses to U.S. and Gulf partners, hoping to trade that know-how for scarce Patriot air defense missiles it needs to fend off Russia’s barrages.

Ukraine has also used its domestically produced long-range drones to hit areas of Russia that support Moscow’s war effort. Russian air defenses intercepted 55 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, the annexed Crimea and the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry reported Tuesday.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

The yellow boards were placed on the bridge due to the fixings being broken

There is currently no date set for repairs to be completed on a bridge in Cambridge. The Equiano Bridge found along the River Cam near Chesterton has had yellow boards placed over the weaker parts of the bridge for several months.

The yellow boards first appeared on the bridge around September 2025. They are on the pedestrian side of the bridge with no boards being placed on the cyclists’ side.

The boards were put over certain parts of the bridge due to the fixings being broken. Cambridgeshire County Council has reassured residents that “the structure is safe” and will continue to make sure it can be used by the public. The council is trying to establish “a suitable plan for the required permanent repairs”.

Originally known as the Riverside Bridge, the bridge was first constructed in 2008. It was renamed the Equiano Bridge in 2022 after the anti-slavery activist Olaudah Equiano, who lived in Soham after buying his freedom from slavery.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We don’t yet have a date set for when Equiano Bridge will be fully repaired. We are continuing to ensure the structure is safe whilst establishing a suitable plan for the required permanent repairs.”

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Barbarez said at a news conference on Monday that former Swansea City boss Cooper had left Tahirovic out of their two most recent games because of Thursday’s qualifier.

Barbarez said: “Benjo has told me some things that are hard to believe. It has something to do with his coach’s origin.

“When your coach wishes you, but not your national team, good luck, it leaves room for thought.

“He (Cooper) has told him that everything will return to normal after the national team season.

“I am not like that, I love and value sport and competition more.”

Cooper, who was born in the south Wales town Pontypridd is also a former Leicester and Nottingham Forest boss.

In the past Cooper dropped Tahirovic and Suriname defender Sean Klaiber, saying they had failed to “live up to the values” of the club.

Brondby’s communications director Soren Hanghoj rejected Barbarez’s claim and said the player’s omission was a “club decision”.

“This is quite a far-reaching speculation,” Hanghoj said.

“Steve has publicly stated the considerations behind the decision – and none of them have the slightest connection with either national team. That goes without saying.

“It is not just a head coach who is the sponsor of a decision like the one in question here.

“It is a club decision that has been made jointly by an entire coaching team and the sporting management.

“And there are not that many Wales fans in Brondby after all.”

Firefighter Richard Booth has issued important safety advice for the 9.8 million UK households with air fryers – it follows multiple worrying incidents

Millions of UK households are believed to have air fryers. Over recent years, these devices have become a kitchen essential due to their convenience and user-friendly nature.

However, like any kitchen appliance, these need to be used with caution. In fact, a firefighter has issued a safety warning following several air fryer-related fires springing up.

Richard Booth, Station Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue, has taken to TikTok to share vital advice for the next time you’re whipping up a meal.

“Use an air fryer? Then do so safely! We’ve attended nine fires caused by air fryers in the last 10 months,” he wrote in a caption accompanying his video.

Richard began his demonstration with a typical air fryer model. The appliance was situated beneath a kitchen cupboard, which is a potential fire risk.

He explained: “We recommend when it’s in use bringing it out from under the cupboards and just making sure the general condition of the air fryer and the plug is in good condition and not cracked.”

Richard added that regular checks should be conducted to ensure the drawers open, close and fit correctly and haven’t sustained any damage over time.

Next, the firefighter rotated the air fryer to draw attention to vents that emit hot air and may accumulate grease. This is another aspect to be mindful of.

Richard recommended only using your air fryer to cook foods deemed safe according to the instruction manual. You should also ensure you have plenty of space for ventilation.

He added: “In the air fryer there is a non-stick lining, so there’s no need to use any grease proof paper or anything like that inside. Make sure you don’t overload it.”

Richard then elaborated on the incidents that had prompted his team to intervene recently. He said: “Four of the call-outs were where the air fryer was actually on a hob.

“[These] had either been switched on accidentally or deliberately. Other incidents were due to poor maintenance and dirty air fryers that had been clogged up with fat.

“There was one incident where someone hadn’t checked the packaging – and there was packaging left in one of the drawers of the air fryer. We do still recommend their use, however, they’re still much safer and cheaper than using your oven.”

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Reacting to Richard’s cautionary advice, one TikTok user wrote: “Love the video, great tips! Had grease proof paper in mine once and it set light! Very dangerous! Keep up the great content.”

A second person shared: “I always keep mine clean and when not in use I always unplug it. Thank you.” Whilst a third individual simply added: “Well done, thank you.”

While a third shared: “Can’t understand why an air fryer is not cleaned after every use. There are no excuses.”

The Ofgem price cap is falling from £1,758 a year to £1,641 – this is how much the typical household who pays by direct debit can expect to pay for gas and electricity

Millions of households are being urged to take an energy meter reading over the next few days before the Ofgem price cap falls.

The Ofgem price cap is falling from £1,758 a year to £1,641 from April 1. This is how much the typical household who pays by direct debit can expect to pay for gas and electricity for the year.

The new price cap will remain in place for three months, when it will then change again on July 1. Energy analysts currently expect bills will rise again due to the Iran war.

You are covered by the price cap if you are on a variable energy tariff, so if you are not fixed into a deal.

It is a good idea to take a meter reading near this price cap update so you are not charged at higher rates for energy used before the price cap changed.

If you have a smart meter, then you should not need to send a meter reading, as this should send regular readings to your supplier for you.

If you do not have a smart meter, then you will need to manually send a meter reading. For most standard electricity meters, you normally take a reading by writing down the first five numbers shown from left to right.

Citizens Advice says you should ignore any red numbers.

If you are on an energy tariff where you get different rates depending on the time of day, you may see two rows of numbers. In this case, you should send both rows of numbers to your supplier.

If you have a dial electricity meter, there will normally be five or more dials. Citizens Advice says you need to read the first five dials from left to right.

It is important you check the direction of each dial before you start your reading, as each one turns in the opposite direction to the one before. You can ignore any red dials.

Citizens Advice says if the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number – but if the pointer is between nine and zero, you should write down nine.

If the pointer is directly over a number, write that number down and underline it – then, if you’ve underlined a number, check the dial to the right and if the pointer on that dial is between nine and zero, reduce the number you’ve underlined by one.

If you have a digital metric meter, Citizens Advice says you need to write down the first five numbers from left to right. The charity says you can ignore the numbers after the decimal point.

For a digital imperial meter, you only need to read the four black numbers and you can ignore the two red numbers.

If you have a dial gas meter, the steps are the same as those with a dial electricity meter, but you don’t need to underline any numbers where the pointer has landed directly on it.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long before he became Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf went on a charm offensive for almost two decades, portraying himself as a hard-liner the West could do business with in the Islamic Republic.

“I would like the West to change its attitude to Iran and trust Iran, and rest assured that there’s an attitude in Iran to advance issues through dialogue,” he told The Times newspaper of London in 2008.

With the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran in its fourth week, the 64-year-old pilot and former Revolutionary Guard commander has denied there have been talks with the United States amid reports that he was floated as Washington’s negotiating partner in talks.

Questions also remain as to what power Qalibaf has within Iran’s theocracy, shattered after the Feb. 28 Israeli airstrike that killed 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, now Iran’s new supreme leader, has backed Qalibaf through his repeated and failed presidential campaigns. Still, multiple centers of power within Iran’s theocracy now likely vie for control of the Islamic Republic — and uncertainties remain over Mojtaba Khamenei’s status as he has yet to be seen after reportedly being wounded.

Meanwhile, Qalibaf has been tied to the crackdown against protesters calling for change within Iran’s government and has seen corruption allegations swirl around him during his time in office.

U.S. President Donald Trump may just be looking for an Iranian version of Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took over as the U.S. military seized former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

“Many Iranians despise Ghalibaf; diplomats see him as pragmatic,” wrote analyst Michael Rubin, using a different transliteration for the politician’s last name. “Those diplomats confuse pragmatism with opportunism. Ghalibaf is a survivor. He sees in Trump someone who can help him achieve what late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei denied him: the presidency or some equivalent interim leadership role.”

Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed close to the Guard, on Tuesday described reports in Western media as a “political bomb” meant to put the country’s leaders in disarray.

“Qalibaf was introduced as a negotiating party in order to present a contradictory and non-unified image of Iran,” Tasnim said. “The mention of Qalibaf’s name was clearly intended to create internal divisions within Iran and to provoke conflict among political forces.”

Qalibaf’s rise within Iran’s theocracy

Qalibaf was born in the city of Torqabeh in Iran’s northeastern Razavi Khorasan province to a father who was a shopkeeper — not a member of the Shiite clergy that seized power in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Like many young men of his generation, he joined the paramilitary Guard during the country’s bloody 1980s war with Iraq, quickly rising through the ranks. After the conflict, he served as the head of the Guard’s construction arm, Khatam al-Anbia, for several years leading efforts to rebuild.

Trained as a pilot, he then served as the head of the Guard’s air force. In 1999, he co-signed a letter to reformist President Mohammad Khatami amid student protests in Tehran over the government closing a reformist newspaper and a subsequent security force crackdown. The letter warned Khatami the Guard would take action unilaterally unless he agreed to putting down the demonstrations.

Violence around the protests, the first in a string of widening demonstrations over the last decades, saw several people killed, hundreds wounded and thousands arrested.

Qalibaf then became the head of Iran’s police, modernizing the force and implementing the country’s 110 emergency phone number. However, a leaked recording of a later meeting between Qalibaf and members of the Guard’s volunteer Basij force, had him claiming that he ordered gunfire be used against demonstrators in 2003 and praising the violence used in Iran’s 2009 Green Movement protests.

Iran’s then-President Hassan Rouhani hinted at the the 2003 incident when the two sparred in a 2017 presidential election debate.

“There was an argument that you were saying that the students should come then we can pincer attack to them and finish the job,” Rouhani said at the time.

Qalibaf offered himself as alternative to Ahmadinejad

As Tehran’s mayor from 2005 to 2017, Qalibaf faced corruption allegations, including over some $3.5 million being donated to a foundation run by his wife.

However, he also used his prominence to travel to the World Economic Forum and even praised New York City in an interview with The Financial Times, undoubtedly raising eyebrows among other hard-liners. His opponents claimed Qalibaf was like Reza Pahlavi, a hard-charging soldier who became shah in 1925 and rapidly pushed to Westernize Persia and rename it Iran before handing power to his son Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Qalibaf didn’t outright reject the comparison.

“If authoritarianism means when collective sense reaches a plan and decision, I’m very determined and firm in carrying it out,” Qalibaf told The Financial Times in 2008, casting himself as an alternative to the hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “When the expediency of the society is in carrying a project, then I’m very firm and show little flexibility and don’t let that collective sense be marred or disarrayed.”

Qalibaf ran in presidential elections in 2005, 2013, 2017 and 2024 but despite the failures of those campaigns, U.S. diplomats suggested he enjoyed the support of Mojtaba Khamenei, according to diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.

“Mojtaba reportedly has long maintained a very close relationship with Tehran Mayor and presidential hopeful Mohammad Baqr Qalibaf; Mojtaba was reportedly the ‘backbone’ of Qalibaf’s past and continuing election campaigns,” an August 2008 cable read. “Mojtaba is said to help Qalibaf as an advisor, financier, and provider of senior-level political support. His support for and closeness to Qalibaf reportedly remains undiminished.”

With Khamenei now Iran’s new supreme leader, Qalibaf’s position may be significantly boosted.

Qalibaf’s name floated as a possible negotiator

Trump pulled back from a 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, media reports suggested Qalibaf may be a possible Iranian contact for the U.S. government. Qalibaf himself has denied any talks are ongoing.

“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” he wrote Monday on X.

Surprisingly, unlike many officials within Iran’s government, Qalibaf’s name is not on any U.S. bounty.

It remains unclear whether the Israelis view Qalibaf as a target. As parliament speaker, Qalibaf praised the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, saying that it showed the “Zionist regime will never have peace until the day it is annihilated.”

Trump as well apparently appeared concerned Monday that his unnamed negotiating partner could jeopardize the safety of any talks.

Asked why he wouldn’t name the Iranian negotiator, Trump told journalists: “Because I don’t want them to be killed, OK? I don’t want them to be killed.”

April is around the corner, and with it a new financial year that promises to bring lots of change to households across the UK.

Cost of living concerns have grown as conflict in the Middle East suddenly threatens to hit Britain’s economy. The situation has severely disrupted the global oil trade, bringing knock-on effects to the price of essentials like energy and food.

Economists say that the worst impacts can be avoided should the conflict end soon, but uncertainty remains as the exchange of fire continues.

In positive news for household finances, inflation saw a steep drop in January to 3 per cent, marking a 10 month low. Some analysts now predict the rate could hit the Bank of England’s target of 2 per cent by April, which was last seen briefly in 2024.

The downward trend means prices are rising less quickly, but for many the cost of living still remains too high.

Around two-thirds (63 per cent) of Brits say they have had to cut back on the essentials to handle the cost of living, recent analysis by the Cost of Living Action group found.

Meanwhile, 55 per cent of households living in poverty now contain at least one working person, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank, which revealed the scale of the issue.

Against this difficult economic backdrop, households should claim all the support they are entitled to. There are now around 24 million people in the country claiming some combination of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) administered benefits, which include those drawing a state pension, representing around one in three people.

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Yet research by Policy in Practice shows that £24bn worth of benefits goes unclaimed every year – you can use its helpful calculator to work out what you might be entitled to.

Are you struggling with the DWP or the cost of living? Share your story: albert.toth@independent.co.uk

Here is an overview of the financial support available to households this April and key dates for benefit and state pension recipients to look out for:

Benefit payment dates in April

Benefit payments will go out as usual in April, except on two key dates. Anyone due a benefit payment on Friday 3 April (Good Friday) or Monday 6 April (Easter Monday), should instead receive this on Thursday 2 April.

This includes:

For more information on how and when state benefits are paid, visit the government’s website.

The DWP is aiming to complete the migration of all “legacy benefits” to universal credit by the end of March 2026. Those receiving tax credits, income support, jobseeker’s allowance, and housing benefit should have received a notice about moving to universal credit already.

Are you having issues with universal credit, PIP, or any other benefit? Get in touch via email: albert.toth@independent.co.uk

Pension payment dates in April

The basic state pension is paid straight into bank accounts, similar to how benefits are paid. It is usually paid every four weeks, with the exact day you receive it corresponding to the last two digits of your national insurance (NI) number.

Here’s when you should be paid based on those numbers:

The same bank holiday payment date changes that apply to most benefits will also apply to state pension payments.

When will benefit rates go up?

In April 2026, all universal credit claimants will receive an above-inflation income boost of around 6.2 per cent to the standard allowance. For a single person over 25, this will be a £6 per week increase, rising from £92 to £98.

For couples with one or both partners over 25, it will be an increase of £9 per week, rising from £145 to £154.

Most other benefits should be uprated by September’s inflation rate alone, increasing by 3.8 per cent. This includes PIP, DLA, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, ESA and more.

However, at the same time, the monthly payment rate for the health-related element of universal credit for new claimants will be cut from £105 to £50. The rate for existing claimants will also be frozen until 2029.

This is a reduction of more than £200 a month, cutting the additional rate by around half. This means it is advisable for anyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply as soon as they can.

The state pension will rise by 4.8 per cent from next April in line with annual earnings growth, the government has confirmed. This will bring the weekly amount to £241.05.

For more information about the new benefit rates, you can read The Independent’s guide.

Other help available

Crisis and Resilience Fund

From April, councils will be able to administer Labour’s new ‘Crisis and Resilience Fund’, designed to support low-income households at times when affording the essentials becomes a struggle.

It will replace both the household support fund and discretionary housing payments.

Crisis payment

The first part of the new scheme will be a ‘crisis payment’ to to support low-income households that have experienced a financial shock, or are at risk of entering crisis.

Like the Household Support Fund, councils will continue to have discretion over the exact eligibility criteria. However, the government’s guidance says it should not be limited just to those in receipt of benefits.

The DWP has asked that councils take a ‘cash-first’ approach to the crisis payment, meaning cash payments should be awarded unless there is a fair reason not to do so.

Housing payment

A new ‘housing payment’ will also be introduced across the UK, aimed at providing financial support towards housing costs for those in need.

This will usually be related to rent, such as needing rent in advance, a rental deposit, or shortfall. It could also cover a lump sum associated with housing, like the cost of moving.

Unlike the crisis payment, the housing payment will be restricted to those in receipt of certain benefits. These are either housing benefit, or universal credit with the housing element for rental costs. However, DWP says those who do not qualify but are still in need could be considered for a crisis payment instead.

Budgeting advance loans

The government offers a “budgeting advance loan” for people on universal credit who face an emergency lack of money. The loan has a maximum repayment period of two years.

These loans are interest-free and are automatically deducted from universal credit payments. You can borrow an ‘advance’ of up to:

Following Labour’s 2024 Budget, a new cap was introduced on the amount the DWP can deduct from benefit payments to repay loans and debts, including budgeting advance loans.

Beginning in April 2025, deductions from universal credit have been capped at 15 per cent of the standard allowance, down from 25 per cent.

Charitable grants

If you are struggling financially, you may be eligible for certain charitable grants. There is a wide range of grants available depending on your circumstances.

However, these grants will typically require you to meet specific criteria and will only be able to offer limited funds.

Charitable grants are available for people who are disabled or ill, carers, bereaved, unemployed, students, and for many other reasons. The charity Turn2us has an online tool to search for grants which may be available to some.

Energy provider help

A number of energy suppliers offer help for those struggling with their energy bills. These include British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus. It is worth contacting your energy provider to find out if you are eligible.

Some also offer free devices like electric blankets for households with vulnerable residents to keep warm.

Social tariffs for broadband and water

For those struggling with household costs, social tariffs are available for both broadband and water bills. This will mean a reduced rate for certain eligible households.

For water, every company operating in the UK has a social tariff by law. However, the amount on offer can vary between regions and, because water providers can’t be chosen like energy providers, the support has been criticised as a “postcode lottery”.

For instance, some offer as much as 90 per cent off bills, while others cap support at a 20 per cent reduction.

To find out what support your water company offers, it is worth checking on its website or contacting the helpline. In all cases, households will need to be deemed to be on a low income and/or in receipt of certain benefits.

Similarly, many broadband providers offer social tariffs to those on certain benefits like universal credit or pension credit.

Council tax reduction

If you meet certain criteria or are on certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a discount on your council tax of up to 100 per cent (this is sometimes called council tax support).

Your local council may still be able to offer you a discretionary reduction if you can demonstrate you are facing severe hardship and can’t afford to pay your council tax.

To apply for a council tax reduction, contact your local council via the government’s website.

Up to 30 hours of free childcare

From 1 September 2025, all working parents in the UK became entitled to 30 hours of free childcare for children up to the age of four. This concluded a gradual set of expansions that began in April 2024.

Parents must apply online and reconfirm their eligibility every three months, in time for each school term. Working parents can also apply for tax-free childcare, giving back 20p for every 80p you put towards childcare, up to a maximum of £500 a year.

Energy price cap: Is it going up?

Ofgem’s energy price cap will drop to £1,641 for 1 April to 31 June 2026 – decreasing by around seven per cent, or £117. It will remain at £1,758 until 31 March.

The energy price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge you for each unit of energy if you’re on a standard variable tariff. That includes most households. It is expressed as an annual bill for an average home.

Many experts – including Ofgem itself – are recommending households consider a fixed tariff energy deal, with many on the market offering lower than the price cap rate.

Ofgem will announce its cap for July to September by 27 May. This could be a steep increase of as much as 10 per cent, or £160, increase due to the situation in the Middle East, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight has warned.

Will there be another cost of living payment in 2026?

The DWP has not announced any continuation of the cost of living payment scheme that ran between 2022 and 2024. The final payment should have been made to eligible households between 6 February and 22 February 2024.

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