The first payments being issued by the Department of Work and Pensions to help with the cost of living will start to arrive in bank accounts from today.
The first £301 is the first instalment of a £900 payment that is designed to provide help to households who are struggling to get by against a backdrop of soaring energy costs and high inflation.
The 2023 cost of living payments are being given to households on low-income benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit. In Merseyside the payments will be made to 200,000 homes.
READ MORE: DWP warning for anyone on Universal Credit expecting £301 payment this week
The DWP said that households on means-tested benefits will automatically receive the first £301 between April 25 and May 17. That amounts to more than £2.4 billion in funding provided to families across the UK.
In Merseyside, more than £69.5m is being shared out among 231,100 families. The payment will be made directly into the bank accounts of those eligible.
Liverpool has the highest number of households eligible for the payout (88,900), meaning that more than £26.7m will be handed to struggling households in the city.
But when compared to the size of the population, residents of Knowsley are most likely to benefit. More than four in 10 households in that area (43.9%) are set to receive £301 each.
While the first payment should be made over the next few weeks, the second payment is due in Autumn 2023, with the third following next Spring.
The DWP has previously warned that payments will be spread out over the next few weeks and that many households would not receive the cash on the first day of the window today. It is expected that the number of payments handed out will increase significantly from tomorrow onwards.
The last date for payments for those in receipt of Universal Credit will be May 17, with the dates for families in receipt of Tax Credits and other eligible legacy benefits starting a week later on May 2 until May 9, to avoid duplicate payments if families are transferring to Universal Credit.
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