People are being warned to check their bank accounts as they could be due to receive hundreds worth of cost of living payments. The government is offering a number of support payments this year to help those hardest hit by the cost of living crisis.
They include a £301 cost of living payment for people on benefits like universal credit, which was given out by the DWP between April 25 and May 17. However, it is being reported that some are only just receiving it because they were missed out the first time or became eligible later because of a new benefit claim being backdated, the Mirror reports.
A one-off £150 is also being paid out to millions of those on disability benefits such as personal independence payments and attendance allowance between June and July 4. To receive this you have to have been eligible for the benefits on April 1 or have a later claim backdated to cover that date.
Read more: The 77 medical conditions that could qualify you for the £150 cost of living payment
Around eight million households qualify for the £301 payment in the UK while 6.7 million individuals are eligible for the £150. However, many will receive both if they are receiving the qualifying benefits, and if your claim was backdated you might even receive both. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
Who is eligible for the £301 payment?
The £301 payment is given to eligible households receiving the following benefits:
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Income support
- Pension credit
- Universal credit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit
The payment will be made separately from your benefit payments. You will not get a payment if you are only getting New Style ESA, contributory ESA, or New Style JSA. You can read more about the payment including which groups don't qualify here.
How do I qualify for the £150 disability payment?
To be eligible for the £150 disability payment, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Attendance allowance
- Constant attendance allowance
- Disability living allowance for adults
- Disability living allowance for children
- Personal independence payment
- Armed Forces independence payment
- War pension mobility supplement
To be eligible for the automatic lump sum, claimants must have received a payment (or later found to be eligible) on April 1, 2023. For those people awaiting confirmation of their entitlement to disability benefits on April 1, or who are waiting to be assessed for eligibility to receive disability benefits, the payment process may take longer and arrive after the scheduled window closes on July 4, but the money will still arrive automatically.
Which payments are being given in the next year?
- £301 paid between April 25 and May 17 for most people on DWP means-tested benefits
- £301 paid between May 2 and 9 for most people on HMRC tax credits and no other means-tested benefits
- £150 paid between June 20 and July 4 for people on disability benefits
- £300 paid during autumn 2023 for people on means-tested benefits - no exact dates yet announced
- £300 paid in November and December to pensioners who get Winter Fuel Payment
- £299 paid during spring 2024 for people on means-tested benefits - no exact dates yet announced
