The government has issued a warning for people at risk of being scammed as it prepares to roll out its first instalment of the £900 cost of living payment.
According to the government, more than eight million families on means-tested benefits will receive up to £900 for the 2023/24 tax which will be split into three payments. This will cover families who receive a variety of benefits such as Universal Credit and Tax Credits.
Depending on which benefits a claimant receives, they will either receive the first instalment of £301 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). For DWP claimants, the payment will be handed out between April 25 and May 17 while HMRC claimants who only receive tax credits and no other benefits will receive it between May 2 and May 9.
Read more: The confirmed dates for DWP and HMRC cost of living payments in April and May
The government has stressed that the payments will be made automatically with eligible claimants being certified through an automated system. However, scammers are using the payments as an opportunity to take advantage of financially vulnerable people.
Issuing a warning for Tax Credit claimants, the government website states: "Beware of scams targeting cost of living payments. If someone contacts you about this payment saying they are from HMRC, it might be a scam.
You do not need to apply for this payment. HMRC will never ask for your bank details by SMS or email. Do not let yourself be rushed. Check advice on spotting scams by visiting GOV.UK and searching ‘phishing and scams’. You can also find ways to contact us on GOV.UK – search ‘Contact HMRC’ and choose ‘tax credits’.
Similarly, you should ignore any calls, texts, or emails claiming to be from the DWP regarding the Cost of Living payments. If you have concerns about your eligibility for the upcoming payments, you should contact either the DWP or HMRC directly using official emails and numbers which can be found on GOV.UK.
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