The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed last month that more than 8 million households across the UK will start to receive a cash payment for £326 from next week to help mitigate the rising cost of living. The first instalment of the £650 one-off boost will land in bank accounts from Thursday July 14, continuing to the end of the month.
People who claim both a means-tested qualifying benefit and Tax Credits from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), will receive the £326 from DWP this month. Those who only claim Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits will get the first of their two payments later this year - a date has still to be announced.
However, in response to a recent query from Independent MP, Neil Coyle, on whether all Universal Credit claimants will receive the payment at the same time as everyone else on other benefits, the DWP explained that payments are being staggered due to the high number of people entitled to the support. It also advised that there “may be potential delays for a small minority of cases due to their unique characteristics”.
In a written response, DWP Minister, David Rutley MP, said: “Due to the volume of people entitled to the payment, it is not possible to issue all of the Cost of Living Support Payments at the same time. Issuing payments will be staggered, but not by benefit type, starting on July 14, 2022.”
He added: “We currently expect the majority of payments to be made by the end of July, there may be potential delays for a small minority of cases due to their unique characteristics.”
Mr Rutley did not give any further details on who may be affected.
Qualifying benefits for the £326 payment
You may get a payment of £326 paid into your account from July 14 if you’re getting any of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credits - see further down for full details
- Child Tax Credits - See further down for full details
Eligibility for £326 payment
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:
- Universal Credit for an assessment period that ended in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022
- Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit for any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022
You will not be eligible for a payment if you get:
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance
- New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, unless you get Universal Credit
£326 payment if you get Tax Credits
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have been entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Eligibility for £326 payment
To get the first Cost of Living Payment of £326, you must have received a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of Tax Credits on any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022.
If you get both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will receive a Cost of Living Payment for Child Tax Credit only.
When you will be paid
If you only receive Tax Credits, you will get the first payment of £326 from Autumn 2022 and the second payment of £324 from winter 2022 - if you’re entitled.
If you get Tax Credits from HMRC and a low income benefit from DWP, you will get a Cost of Living Payment from DWP only, starting from July 14.
If you also get a qualifying disability benefit, you may get an additional £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP.
£150 if you get certain disability benefits
You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you’re getting any of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Eligibility
You must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits for May 25, 2022 to get the payment.
If you get a qualifying disability benefit from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and a qualifying disability benefit from DWP, you will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only.
When you will get paid
Payments will be made in September 2022.
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