The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates almost 400,000 households in the North East will be getting cost-of-living payments worth £650 starting in July.
The DWP says that 397,000 households in our region are currently eligible for the payments - the first instalment of £326 will be paid from July 14, with another of £324 following in the autumn. Those who will get the money in their bank accounts are households who get means-tested benefits.
People receiving tax credits will also get their first instalment of the cost of living payment from HMRC later this year as part of what the Government has billed as a £37 billion package to help families.
Read more: What Universal Credit claimants need to know about July's cost of living payment change
The DWP has also revealed that the disability top-up payment of £150 will land in bank accounts in September - the department thinks nearly one in ten people will get that. The DWP thinks that, overall, millions of households will receive at least £1,200 to help cover rising costs.
Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: "With millions of the lowest-income households soon seeing the first of two cash instalments land into their bank accounts, we are taking action to directly help families with the cost of living. This one-off payment totalling £650 is part of our £37 billion cost of living support package that will put an extra £1,200 into the pockets of those most in need."
The unequal split between the two payments is designed to minimise the risk of fraud, the DWP said. Ministers also revealed the eligibility date for those who could receive the second payment will be announced "soon". Households do not need to contact DWP or HMRC to receive the money - which will be granted automatically to those who qualify.
Pensioners are also in line for an additional £300 payment this year, on top of the £400 household funding towards energy bills. The DWP also highlighted changes to the "taper rate" for Universal Credit and a rise in the National Living Wage as ways it was supporting the poorest households.
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