A major change made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) means that more people may be eligible for the cost of living payment than before.
Millions of people across Scotland and the UK have already received the first £326 instalment of the £650 cost of living payment. The second £324 instalment will be issued by the end of October.
Those claiming tax credits may have to wait longer for their money, however. The eligibility criteria for tax credit receivers has been adjusted by the DWP.
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The DWP has changed its official guidelines for tax credit receivers. It states: "To clarify that for tax credits claimants to get the first cost of living payment of £326, they must have been entitled, or later found to be entitled, to tax credits for any day in the period 26 April 2022 to 25 May 2022, rather than they received a payment between those dates."
As a result, you do not need to have been in receipt of tax credits during the qualifying period. In addition, you may have qualified for tax credits but not yet received any payments.
Tax credits can be claimed by those who receive the following benefits: Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and/or Pension Credit.
Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are paid out by HMRC as opposed to the DWP, and those receiving them will get the cost of living payment at a later date in avoid to prevent duplicate payments.
The first payment is due to be paid in September, while the second one will be issued some time this winter.
If you claim both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, you will get a cost of living payment for just Child Tax Credit. Additionally, if you get tax credits from HMRC and a means-tested benefit from the DWP, you will get the cost of living payment from just the DWP.
The DWP and HMRC use a computer program to find people eligible for the cost of living payment. If you do not get the money but think you should have, then you can get in touch with he office that deals with your benefits.
As reported by MyLondon, here is a rundown of the cost of living payment dates.
When you’ll be paid
| Benefit or tax credits | Cost of living Payment | When you’ll be paid |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Credit | £326 | Between 14 and 31 July 2022 for most people |
| |
£324 | Autumn 2022 |
| Income-based JSA | £326 | Between 14 and 31 July 2022 for most people |
| |
£324 | Autumn 2022 |
| Income-related ESA | £326 | Between 14 and 31 July 2022 for most people |
| |
£324 | Autumn 2022 |
| Income Support | £326 | Between 14 and 31 July 2022 for most people |
| |
£324 | Autumn 2022 |
| Pension Credit | £326 | Between 14 and 31 July 2022 for most people |
| |
£324 | Autumn 2022 |
| Tax Credits | £326 | In September 2022 for most people |
| |
£324 | From winter 2022 |
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