The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has sent out more than 6 million £150 payments to people receiving disability benefits. The one-off payment has been handed out as part of the government's financial support for vulnerable households, which will see benefits claimants get up to £1,350 extra cash over this year and next.
The one-off disability payment is the second payment to be made to vulnerable households this year, and follows the first installment of the £900 cost of living payment that was paid to eligible households in April.
In addition to the £900 payment for people on eligible means-tested benefits - the second and third installments of which are still to come - and the £150 disability payment, some households will also receive a £300 pensioner cost of living payment this winter.
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The DWP first began sending £150 payments out to people on qualifying disability benefits, including disability living allowance and personal independence payment, from June 20. The two-week payment window came to an end today, July 4, which means anyone who is missing their payment will soon be able to contact the DWP to ask for help.
The DWP states on its website: "You will be able to report a missing Disability Cost of Living Payment from 5 July 2023. Do not contact us before then as we will not be able to take any action." Claimants who are missing their payments will be able to report it through the government website from Wednesday here.
The department has previously said that a small number of payments will be made after July 4, where claimants were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to qualifying disability benefits on April 1. The payment reference on bank statements appears as your national insurance number followed by “DWP COL”.
To be eligible for the £150 payment, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
You must have received a payment - or be due a payment - of one of these benefits for April 1 this year to qualify.
A £150 disability cost of living payment was also paid last September as part of the previous year's support, which saw vulnerable households get up to £1,050 in financial help.
When are the next cost of living payments due in 2023/24?
A total of five payments are being made this year and next as part of the government's support for 2023/2024.
Exact dates for when the remaining three payments are to be made have not been released by the DWP - but the department has given a vague idea of when they can be expected.
- £300 – Second Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023
- £300 – Pensioner Cost of Living Payment – from November (with Winter Fuel payment)
- £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024
