Cost of living payments have started rolling out across the nation for those eligible this week.
More than eight million households will start to receive the first of two instalments totalling £650 this week to help ease the pressure from the rising cost of living. Low-income households receiving certain means-tested benefits will be eligible for the payments issued by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
The qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit. However, one Labour MP is keen to see the eligibility scope expanded to include people claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA), reported the Daily Record.
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Earlier this week, Dr Rupa Huq asked the DWP what assessments had been made on the “potential merits” of granting the £650 cost of living payment to people in receipt of DLA. Unfortunately, in a written response on Wednesday, DWP minister David Rutley MP, highlighted the £150 disability cost of living payment being made to 6 million people claiming disability benefits - including DLA - in September.
He also said that many disabled people are receiving a means-tested benefit and may actually be eligible for the £650 cost of living payment and the £300 pensioner payment, a total of £1,100 in additional financial support. Mr Rutley said: “The [UK] Government recognises that disabled people face extra costs, which is why 6 million disabled people who are in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment worth £150.
“This includes people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. Households will receive a payment for each eligible disabled person. Many disabled people are also in receipt of a means-tested benefit. Therefore, they will be eligible for both the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment and the £650 Cost of Living Payment. Disabled pensioners will in addition benefit from the £300 increase in the Winter Fuel Payment.”
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