The first half of the £650 cost of living payment should have hit the bank accounts of millions of eligible people across the country.
But some households are yet to receive the cash.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had previously said most people should have received £326 by July 31.
However, it warned there may be “potential delays for a small minority of cases”.
If you’ve yet to receive the first half of the £650 payment, the DWP has now explained what to do.
If you think you should have had the £326 payment, but you cannot see it in your bank account you can report a missing Cost of Living payment through the Gov.uk website.
Are you still waiting for your £326 first cost of living payment? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
The DWP said: "Most eligible people will have received their £326 cost of living payment by the end of July 2022.
“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."
Who is eligible for the £650 cost of living payment?
The £650 payment is only being awarded to more than eight million households who claim means-tested benefits.
These are payments where your income and savings are taken into account to work out how much you can claim.
The benefits that will entitle you to the £650 cost of living payment includes:
Child Tax Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Pension Credit
Universal Credit
Working Tax Credit
Those who claim Universal Credit, income-related ESA and JSA, Income Support, and Pension Credit started to receive the first half, worth £326, from July 14.
The second £324 payment is expected to be sent to eligible households in autumn.
Those who claim tax credits will receive their first payment slightly later, with this not expected to be processed until the autumn, with a second payment to follow in winter.
The payments are being issued automatically to eligible households. They are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.
Reasons why you might not have received your cost of living payment yet
The DWP has also explained three reasons why you might not have received your cost of living cash yet.
This includes:
You're still waiting for a decision on your benefit application or appeal - if you're eligible, you'll get the cost of living payment automatically later on
The payment is not due yet for your benefit - for example, if you get tax credits, you will not get your first cost of living payment until autumn 2022
You're not eligible for it - to get the £326, you must have been either entitled to a Universal Credit payment for an assessment period that ended in the period April 26, 2022 to May 25, 2022, or entitled to a payment of income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support or Pension Credit payment for any day in the same period.
I'm not eligible for the £650 - what help can I get?
Not everyone who claims benefits will be entitled to the £650 payment - so it is worth checking what other support you can get.
There is a £150 payment being made to those who claim certain disability benefits and £300 for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments.
Every home in England, Scotland and Wales will also receive £400 off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October.
This money is applied to your energy bills and doesn’t need to be paid.
This is in replacement of the £200 "loan-not-loan" that had originally been announced last year by the Chancellor.
The Household Support Fund has also been extended again by another £500million.
You need to speak to your council to see what help it offers and if you’re eligible for support.
