Over 300,000 households in Northern Ireland will receive their first Cost of Living Payments for the upcoming year this spring.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that those who are in receipt of means tested and disability benefits will receive further payments to help them during the Cost of Living Crisis.
The first £301 low income payment will be made in Spring 2023, with a second £300 payment in Autumn 2023 and a third in Spring 2024.
Read more: When Cost of Living payments will be paid this year for people on benefits
A £150 Disability Payment is due during Summer 2023 and a £300 additional Winter Fuel Payment is due during Winter 2023/24.
The payments will be available to everyone on; Universal Credit and tax credits, Pension Credit and legacy DWP benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support, with around 8.1 million households across the UK expected to receive it.
Eligible individuals do not need to apply for payments, as they are made automatically. Those eligible for cost of living payments through tax credits, and no other means-tested benefits, will be paid by HMRC shortly after DWP payments are made.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “These direct payments will help people right across the UK over this year and the start of the next, as we continue to provide consistent, targeted and substantial support for the most vulnerable.
“Our wider support package, including the Energy Price Guarantee, will ensure every household is being helped through this challenging period of high inflation, caused by Putin’s illegal war and the aftershocks of the pandemic.”
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris said: "This further cost of living support will continue to help those most in need across Northern Ireland.
"The Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our society."
In Northern Ireland aproximately 321,000 households will receive a payment and 340,000 will receive the disability one.
The areas that will receive the highest number of payments are West Belfast, North Belfast, Foyle, Upper Bann and Newry and Armagh.
North Down has the lowest number of payments being made to households.
The numbers of payments being made per area in Northern Ireland
Belfast East
Households receiving means-tested payment: 15,200
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 16,200
Belfast North
Households receiving means-tested payment: 27,900
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 26,000
Belfast South
Households receiving means-tested payment: 14,500
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 14,500
Belfast West
Households receiving means-tested payment: 28,300
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 26,700
East Antrim
Households receiving means-tested payment: 13,000
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 15,100
East Londonderry
Households receiving means-tested payment: 17,400
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 18,300
Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Households receiving means-tested payment: 16,800
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 17,700
Foyle
Households receiving means-tested payment: 26,200
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 24,700
Lagan Valley
Households receiving means-tested payment: 13,000
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 15,300
Mid Ulster
Households receiving means-tested payment: 16,500
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 18,500
Newry and Armagh
Households receiving means-tested payment: 21,000
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 20,900
North Antrim
Households receiving means-tested payment: 17,500
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 18,400
North Down
Households receiving means-tested payment: 11,100
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 13,900
South Antrim
Households receiving means-tested payment: 13,300
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 16,200
South Down
Households receiving means-tested payment: 17,600
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 19,500
Strangford
Households receiving means-tested payment: 13,100
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 15,600
Upper Bann
Households receiving means-tested payment: 21,200
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 22,200
West Tyrone
Households receiving means-tested payment: 18,100
Individuals eligible for the disability payment: 20,300
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