The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated online guidance for people claiming Tax Credits who think they qualified for the first part of the £650 means-tested cost of living payment, but have not received any money.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued automatic payments to eligible claimants receiving Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits for £326 between September 2-7. Tax Credit claimants who also receive a means-tested benefit from the DWP should have already received their first cost of living payment in July.
The update on GOV.UK said: “Tax Credits claimants can now let HMRC know if they think they should have had the £326 Cost of Living Payment, but cannot see it in their bank, building society or credit union account.”
Reporting a missing payment is simple and can be done quickly online, but before doing that, make sure you are eligible for the additional financial support.
Eligibility for £326 Tax Credits-only cost of living payment
To qualify for the Tax Credits-only £326 Cost of Living Payment, claimants must have been entitled, or later found to be entitled, to a payment, or an annual award of at least £26, of Tax Credits for any day in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022.
For joint claimants, where one claimant receives Working Tax Credit and the other claimant receives Child Tax Credit, payments will be made into the same bank account as the Child Tax Credit.
Report a missing cost of living payment
To use the ‘Report a missing Cost of Living Payment’ form on GOV.UK, you will need your National Insurance number.
DWP said: “If you have already reported a missing payment, you do not need report it again. We will reply to you as soon as we can.”
You can use the online service if you have not received the £326 cost of living payment that you were expecting for:
- Universal Credit
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Tax credits
DWP advises: “Before reporting a missing payment, check your bank, building society or credit union account, or your Payment Exception Service voucher receipt. The payment will be made separately from your benefit.”
Report a missing payment here.
Who does not qualify for the £650 payment?
You will not be eligible for a payment if you get New Style Employment and Support Allowance, Contributory Employment and Support Allowance or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, unless you get Universal Credit.
Backdated cost of living payments
Your payment may come later, for example if you are awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you change the account your benefit or Tax Credits are paid into.
You will still be paid the cost of living payment automatically and do not need to contact DWP or HMRC.
£150 if you get certain disability benefits
The next round of payments is the £150 disability cost of living payment which starts from Tuesday, September 20 for people on certain benefits.
If you’re getting any of the following, you should automatically receive the payment:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Eligibility
You must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these qualifying benefits for May 25, 2022 to get the payment.
If you get a qualifying disability benefit from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and a qualifying disability benefit from DWP, you will get a Disability Cost of Living Payment from DWP only.
Find out more about the UK Government’s cost of living payments on GOV.UK here.
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